Write about a character who smells something familiar and is instantly taken back to the first moment they smelled it.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 219 stories

“Jasmine and Blackcurrant” by Paige Leppanen

Submitted to Contest #61

Chantelle didn’t usually leave much at Cory’s house. Once in a while she forgot a jacket or, once, her housekey. She’d never asked to leave a toothbrush there, and he’d never offered, so she typically kept it, a change of clothes, and other potential necessities packed neatly in a satchel. That was why she was shocked when Cory emerged from his basement with a small flowered purse and interrupted her reading by tossing it at her. “Is that yours?” he asked. Chantelle held it and traced the stitching with her fingertips. “I haven’t seen th...

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“To Infinity?” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #61

It was called Galaxy, and for good reason.It was nothing more than a ripoff of the Milky Way candy bar, only with dark chocolate instead of milk and fancy edible glitter in silvery hues of dark purple and blue. Pippin and I used to skate to the drugstore on the corner and buy a bar, Saturdays, before our parents got off work. We’d pool our jangly collection of nickels and quarters until we had $0.79, and then we’d split one. Pippin would eat hers slowly, and mine fast, in classic girl-boy contrast. We saved the wrappers and stored them in on...

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“World behind the coffee” by Huma Imran

Submitted to Contest #61

The lawn was decorated with nice scented flowers and beautiful lights. People were excited and rejoice to here the much awaited announcement. Suddenly Harry’s dad Richard’s voice came in the mic, thanking everyone to join this ceremony ,was very happy. This engagement took place in their own beautifully, decorated, huge lawn. The place was attractive because of fantastic decoration, the beauty was enhanced by the nearby pool. Everything was very pleasing. A variety of dishes place at a corner. Every type of dish was available. it was a lovel...

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“Slaughterhouse 6 Million.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #61

Slaughterhouse 6 Million. It’s irrational, I know, but he gave off an odour which took me back to the camp. Perhaps I just recognised him and I created his smell that stopped me in my tracks. The person in question looked very distinguished and indeed was heralded as a paragon of virtue and as an example to us all. But that is not how I remembered him. I was eight years old and confined to the Belson Concentration Camp when he took the whip to my mother. It was possibly inadvertent as far as he was concerned, it just happened to be...

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“Rivals.” by Micheal Sanjay

Submitted to Contest #61

Just like every other Friday, I was in the bookshop looking for a book to buy. I finally found the one with the perfect kind of romance I had been looking for 'Vanished' by Danielle Steel. "Wow you have a good taste for romance." The lady who owns the store said when I came to pay for the book. Miss Stella and I had become very close because of my regular Friday visits in her store. "What happened Becky, you're not going for the Kings today." She said with a grin. "Nah. Mum keeps telling me a girl like me shouldn't be reading...

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“Manal and the Marigold Knight” by Michael Boquet

Submitted to Contest #61

Time slowed to a crawl as Manal and Mala lay prone behind a cluster of large rocks. Manal and Mala lay motionless, waiting for the group of mercenaries to leave. The pair had been evading roving squads of mercenaries for three days, ever since crossing into the country of Zof. This had proven difficult, as Zof's terrain was not conducive to hiding. Like all the world's countries, Zof was a dry and arid land. Its landscape consisted of long flat expanses of stone and hard packed soil that descended into shallow gullies filled with sand. As...

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“Cheap Beer” by Mia S

Submitted to Contest #61

“Hey, Stick,” says Wally as we crowd around the back door of the bar. “Yeah?” I’ve gotten used to my new nickname by now, although it’s still a little weird to have my name be based off of my scrawniness. “You ever drunk anything?”“Nah,” I reply. “Never had the chance.”“You’ll like it,” he says, like he knows everything there is to know about me. “Burns a little at first, but you’ll like it.”“I bet.” The other guys in the gang - the Bronx Boys, they call themselves, but I think names like that are kinda stupid - shuffle their ...

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“Bean Pies ” by Eden Myers

Submitted to Contest #61

Some may call it Deja vu. My therapist says it’s PTSD. Of course, no one knows the full story. You should be honored to know you are the first person to hear my story. This tale is about a smell. This smell haunts my dreams, the vision haunts my nightmares. It’s become so recurring that I have started not sleeping at all. I even nearly got fired from my job after trudging through the door thirty minutes late, adorned in a mismatched suit and heavy dark circles around my eyes. The smell leaves me with searing headaches. And the worst part? It...

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“Hazelnuts” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #61

Whenever I came into a new town for whatever reason, the first place I visited was the local café. Sometimes, I wouldn’t even order anything. I’d just sit there and soak everything in. It was just part of the job. I was an investigator for hire, similar to the great detective himself. Anyone who needed my help, provided that the case was interesting, got it. The local café was the best place to observe everyone, since they were always themselves in the café. It was like a second home. The town of Millie Point was a sweet little town,...

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“Burnt Feelings” by Jacob Foxworthy

Submitted to Contest #61

"Welcome class." The teacher had sarcastically said out to everyone. "There has been issues with the air conditioning over the weekend and is hoped to be fixed soon so please do not mind the smell." I really didn't like this teacher at all, I am new to this school in fact this country in general, I never really wanted to move here in the first place but since my mom and dad got divorced and everything fell apart dad told me to pack my bags and go to Canada with my auntie while he gets things figured out. I do like my auntie a lot though she ...

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“A Masquerade” by Suhi Rohin

Submitted to Contest #61

“Don’t run from me, Mura,” he frowned at her from across the lounge. Anger flashed in her eyes as he slowly approached her, coming to a stop a few feet away. His hands were raised in front of him, pleading silently to let him explain. He flinched at the burst of accusation that flitted across her face. She was always good at hiding her more explosive emotions, but never from him. Shaun knew her too well, and too long for her to really hide from him.She stood poised on the other side of the velvet couch, clutching a cushion in her fist, silen...

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“Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall…” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #61

“It’s all done with smoke and mirrors, you know. It’s like what Death says – that eating curry is like biting a red hot ice cube…”“Don’t you begin with the literary references now. I’ve had it up to here already. I wish I’d never signed up for extra classes.”“The problem with you, kiddo, is that you take too much for granted. You thought it would be a cinch to earn writing credits rather than attending classes full-time… and oh, how good it feels to say ‘I told you so’!”Hadrian scratched his scalp, drawing blood with his ragged fingerna...

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“Jenny - My true love” by Chandrika Menon

Submitted to Contest #61

It was a fine Sunday evening; I went out with my parents to a garden fence for spending some cool time. I was just 7 years old and the only adorable daughter of my parents, who were ready to do anything for my happiness. I always felt bad for myself, as my parents went out for their job; I was left at home with our maid without any siblings or friends to play with me. As that Sunday, I was feeling bored at home, they took me to the garden, nearby our residence, where we used to visit usually. For an hour, I walked through the whole garden,...

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“Roses of Malum” by Sharika Mattoo

Submitted to Contest #61

“You know we could have invested all this money into research, if only you could take your own advice and chill.” I said leaning towards Evelyn while trying my best to balance on a single foot. “That’s what you said about our wedding. Now hush.” Evelyn sighed visibly but didn’t so much as bat an eye-lid in my direction. Like she saw this coming from a mile away. “Well, I was right about that wasn’t I? Halving that wedding budget for donations brought us much more peace than wringing ourselves did this past hour…” “Oh hush now Lee!” Evely...

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“The Witch and the Assassin” by Madelyn Taylor

Submitted to Contest #61

I’ve always thought that memories were curious little things. There’s just something about how any sensation, even ones you previously thought to be meaningless, can take you back to a specific time or place or moment. In a way, memories are almost like magic, and I would know a thing or two about that being a witch and all. Even now, years later, the smell of spicy, sweet citrus takes me back to an early November morning under a grove of bergamot trees. It was a day that would change my life forever. It was the day I met him. The gra...

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Write about a character who smells something familiar and is instantly taken back to the first moment they smelled it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 219 stories

“Jasmine and Blackcurrant” by Paige Leppanen

“To Infinity?” by Inkstained Introvert

“World behind the coffee” by Huma Imran

“Slaughterhouse 6 Million.” by Len Mooring

“Rivals.” by Micheal Sanjay

“Manal and the Marigold Knight” by Michael Boquet

“Cheap Beer” by Mia S

“Bean Pies ” by Eden Myers

“Hazelnuts” by D. Alfonso

“Burnt Feelings” by Jacob Foxworthy

“A Masquerade” by Suhi Rohin

“Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall…” by Tanja Cilia

“Jenny - My true love” by Chandrika Menon

“Roses of Malum” by Sharika Mattoo

“The Witch and the Assassin” by Madelyn Taylor

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character passing down their favorite childhood toy to a new generation.

Write about a character who goes to — or purposefully avoids — their high school reunion.

Write about a character discovering something new about their past that changes how they remember an important moment.

Write about a character who’s obsessed with an era they never lived through.

Contest #61

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

719

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: