Traveling is a delight for the senses, but the sense of smell is often overlooked.
An online forum discussion highlighted the importance of scent, with participants sharing their suggestions for the best-smelling destinations in the world.
Her choices include an American town that smells “like fruity cereal” because of a nearby factory and a Scottish location covered in gorse flowers that smells like “honey and coconut”.
Reddit user ‘coffeewalnut05’ was clearly in the mood to snoop and started the discussion by asking: ‘What are some of the fragrant places you’ve visited on your travels?’
Read on to find out the answers…
An online forum highlighted the importance of scent, with participants sharing their suggestions for the best-smelling destinations in the world. One person says the Scottish Highlands smell like “honey and coconut” due to the gorse flowers, as pictured.
The Scottish Highlands
It’s no surprise that this thread features many flower-filled locations. ‘Girhinomofe’ says: ‘In the Western Highlands of Scotland, if you find yourself on a stretch of road surrounded by gorse plants, you’ll find it’s a euphoric mix of honey and coconut.’ Gorse generally flowers in early spring in Scotland.
Provence, France
According to one Reddit user, the smell of flowers in the French countryside is a “delight.” The image shows lavender fields in Provence.
The French countryside is another place filled with botanical fragrances. According to Pwlife: “Between all the fruit and lavender fields and flower-filled gardens, it’s a delight.” Provence is especially famous for its lavender plantations.
Grasse, France
The air is heavily scented in Grasse, a town on the French Riviera known as the perfume capital of the world. Perfumers, known as “noses” in France, train there to learn how to distinguish scents.
One tourist comments: “They make an amazing perfume there, but what a smell all those flowers make!” Tuberose, jasmine and iris are just some of the sweet-smelling flowers in Grasse.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
‘Buttrnut_Squash’ says: ‘Walking through the streets above Dubrovnik’s Old Town, I was repeatedly hit by this glorious aroma, a cross between orange blossom and jasmine.
“It’s just heavenly. I discovered that it’s a shrub called cheese stick. The flowers don’t last long, so I was lucky to be there at the right time.”
Banff, Canada
According to one tourist, Banff, Canada, pictured above, “smells like Christmas.” And it’s all thanks to the resort town’s many pine trees.
If the scents of summer aren’t for you, one tourist recommends Banff in Canada.
The ski resort ‘smells like Christmas’ due to the aroma of pine trees, according to ‘Gie_lokimum’.
Sevilla Spain
From Seville (above), Spain, a tourist says: “The orange trees everywhere made the scent linger in the air and it was wonderful.”
In Seville, where the air is filled with oranges, the scent is fruity, says ‘MaxGoldfinch25’. ‘The orange trees everywhere made the scent linger in the air and it was wonderful. Seville is definitely my favourite Spanish city.’
Iowa, United States
The pictured Quaker oat plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, makes the city “smell like fruity cereal,” says one Reddit user
‘GlobeTr3kker’ says: ‘Cedar Rapids, Iowa, smells like fruity cereal from the nearby cereal mills.’ The Midwestern city is home to the world’s largest cereal mill, which produces Cap’n Crunch and Quaker Oats.
Zurich, Switzerland
A tourist comments: “The first night in Zurich we took a dinner cruise on the lake. Halfway there we started to smell a faint scent of chocolate.
“We looked around and there was a huge Lindt factory right there with an incredible aroma that spread out over the lake.” This is the Lindt factory in Kilchberg, which is located on the west side of Lake Zurich.
Avery Island, Louisiana, United States
The Tabasco factory is located on Avery Island in Louisiana. One tourist says: “As soon as you get out of the car on Avery Island, you practically inhale Tabasco. It’s nice.”
New Mexico, United States
In New Mexico, the smells are “fragrant and inviting,” according to one tourist, especially when citizens are drying the region’s chiles, as seen above.
On the scent of Moroccan markets, in the picture, ‘SadPea7’ says: ‘Mint stalls, then fish stalls, then orange flowers, then meat… then almond cookies’
There’s also a spicy aroma in the air in New Mexico, says Slkreger. They say it’s “so fragrant and inviting everywhere” when they’re “smoking/drying the chiles.”
Salzuflen, Germany
Eipottatsch says: “It’s a designated spa town. Basically a place where overworked workers would go to recuperate. They have these giant salt walls that they run salt water through. It gives off a strong salt smell throughout the town that’s just incredible.”
Morocco
If you’re looking for an all-out assault on the snout, head to Morocco. ‘SadPea7’ says: ‘Markets in Morocco. Mint stalls, then fish stalls, then orange blossom stalls, then meat stalls… then almond biscuit stalls.’