Joyrides For The Senses
By Sophia Benoit
Take your senses for a ride this summer...
Vision
A Ferris wheel lit up at night.
Pastel-colored houses cascading down the cliffs to the turquoise sea.
The gleaming orange glow of an Aperol spritz.
A cloudless blue sky over its darker twin: the ocean.
Fireflies in the switchgrass.
Your city, but seen from a plane window.
The colorful chaos of a Holi celebration, with clouds of bright powders filling the air.
The constellation Cygnus, after your dad points it out.
Taste
Saltwater on your lips after a swim in azure blue water.
Gelato, licked off the side of your hand, and down your forearm.
The sweet, replenishing nectar of fresh coconut water sipped from the shell.
Churros double-dipped in thick chocolate sauce.
Heirloom tomatoes from your own garden, drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.
The tropical explosion of flavor in a Caipirinha cocktail.
Fresh red berries for dessert.
Another bourbon slush, also for dessert.
Sound
The whistle and pop of a firecracker.
The gentle clinking of glasses and soft chatter at a sidewalk café.
The background hum of a gazillion cicadas.
Thunder from a far-off storm that never arrives.
A ceiling fan whirring rhythmically overhead.
The satisfying thud of a racket hitting the ball in a game of tennis.
The crinkly pages of a beach read that took an accidental dip in the pool.
Touch
Hot, prickly grass under your thighs as you watch Shakespeare in the Park.
The condensation of a chilled bottle of orange wine on your neighbor’s rooftop.
The gentle caress of a silk lantern brushing against your skin in a bustling night market.
Fine, powdery sand beneath your bare feet.
The refreshing chill of a paleta against your lips.
The rough bark of an ancient olive tree as you rest in its shade.
That cool splash of water from your backyard sprinkler on a scorching hot day.
Scent
Briny sea breezes.
Citronella.
The earthy smell of wet soil after the first monsoon rain.
The soapy fresh aroma of your second shower of the day—the one you take just to cool off.
Fragrant, sun-warmed pine needles in a forest.
Whatever detergent they use on the sheets in your lover’s parents’ guest house.
Smelling the City Exclusive perfumes, one by one, at Le Labo.
