What’s That Smell?

Researching ideas for a book called A Pheromone Affair brought some interesting tangents. First the definition of a pheromone may help. It’s a substance produced by a species to affect the behavior of like species. Biologists know a buck deer uses scent glands on his back legs to emit pheromones to attract does. You may have heard ants leave a trail of pheromone from a food source back to the ant hill so others can also find the food. In the case of the book, well, maybe
you should read it.

Because of the surge of aroma therapy back in the 1990s, I determined to seek out the professionals in the business. The Fragrance Foundation in New York City seemed like a great place to start. After a short call/email trail a slot opened to speak with the Executive Director. Annette Green, a frail, gentle soul started with the foundation at its inception in 1949. She greeted me warmly and loved the opportunity to speak about her passion.

In a path hoped to build a reasonable expectation of suspense, questions led to how the industry markets aromatherapy. “Then you mean I could take my wife to a restaurant and have the most romantic evening and its cause is the air freshener?”

Annette leans forward and says, “Oh, yes. We have to be very careful how we market these products.”

Now we’re getting somewhere! “Then, I could go to a football game in a domed stadium and have an outrageous time and it would be because of the deodorizer?”

“That’s right.”

And so went the interview. Annette also suggested I contact a perfume research chemist since my protagonist, Audrey Leclaire, trained as one. She gave me a short list to contact and I did communicate with a lady who responded.

Annette handed me off to another employee who supplied me with a filing cabinet drawer full of fragrance news and history. I know more about top notes, middle notes, and bass notes than most men ought to. I learned about how flower petals change from squeezed to emit oil, to a concrete. It’s from the concrete essences derive. I learned how those research chemists, known as noses, use their olfactory senses to not only identify what essences are within a bottle of perfume, but also how to use their talent in creating new ones.

For instance, if Word Weavers wanted to peddle a perfume we’d all get together and make a list of words representative of what we want the perfume to exude. Things like ink, paper, creativity, maybe character strengths, love, fear, tension. It doesn’t matter what comprises the list; it’s what we want the ultimate fragrance to bring out of the customer. Once we have the list, we send it to noses we select. Maybe five or six of them. Each will take the list and concoct what they believe fills the bill.

After several months they each bring their creation to our conference. The bottles reside on a table in random order. Our select committee whiffs each in turn and votes on the one most closely fulfilling our desire. That’s the new Word Weavers perfume.

Another research arm takes us to technology. With today’s gas analyzers, spectrographs, like what Abby uses in NCIS, it’s not necessary for a nose to tell us what’s in the bottle. However, the creation ability lays only within the brain of a nose whose expertise includes knowing four thousand different essences. It’s this wide base of knowledge that allows a nose to create.

Through the years a need arose to once again contact the Fragrance Foundation. I learned Annette had since retired, but the receptionist forwarded a note to Annette on my behalf. I received an email from her and sent her my regards. I suspect by now she may have passed, but the relationship we had back in the 1990s rekindled because of her gracious and friendly manner. If I learned anything from this research project, perhaps you’ll find The Pheromone Chronicles an
interesting read.

The three books will be The Affair, The Affect, and The Affirmation if the working titles stick.

Warren’s varied experience runs the gauntlet from delivering babies as an EMT, to public speaking, to forest technology, to surveying, to manufacturing where he traveled around the world, and writing. These activities offer readers a wide view of life as Warren focuses on details surrounding all of us. 

He lives with his wife of forty-eight years, Barbara, in northwest South Carolina. Their three children bring twelve grandchildren and many foster kids into the picture.

Inspiration Pops Up in Surprising Places

“Wait! What was that? Did I see what I think I saw? Did you see it, too?”

This could be a conversation spoken out loud or a silent chat within the mind of a writer. I have learned to be ready and open to a story idea appearing in the simplest moments of life.

From alligators sunning on the pond bank across the street to a small round dust ball parked on the bedroom carpet to a misunderstanding of words spoken by my husband, story can be found in every situation.

I don’t use every life event in my stories or blog posts. I pray before writing and ask God to give me the words He wants me to share. Not all of my daily experiences make for a great story. Keeping prepared and open for those special opportunities makes each day interesting.

A friend recently asked, “Do you carry a notepad with you? Do you jot your ideas on paper or just try to recall them later?”

My answer is always, “Both ways.”

When a funny situation occurs and I’m not sure if I will remember all the crazy details, I quickly write the main points on paper, even if there is only a scrap piece of paper or a napkin to record details.

Other times, I trust I will remember each moment and give special attention to descriptions, time and place.

The day of a writer can change from moment to moment. A simple walk to the mailbox can
bring a colorful and humorous tale to share with the world.

My children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” released in 2017. The story is based on my own fear of lizards. I was afraid until I remembered God created lizards, too.

A recent book signing was held to promote the book. I read the story to a group of children and parents. Along with the story, the hosts of the event brought in a reptile expert who displayed cages of lizards.

Much to my own surprise, I faced my fear and allowed a lizard to rest on my shoulder. He stayed there a short time and that was fine with me.

Yes, I will be writing a blog post about meeting a real live lizard.

Remember, inspiration can pop up in surprising places.

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages. Her first children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” was released in 2018. She also has a story in the new compilation, “Heaven Sightings”. Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. She and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina to be near son, daughter-in-law and first grandchild. The family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Henderson’s”.
Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com
 

Today’s interview for the North Georgia Christian Writers Conference

by Lindsey Brackett is with Julie Lavender

Click on the video link below and enjoy!