Today, as I was getting ready to go to the bank, I reached for a bottle of perfume I had not used in a while. It reminded me that sometimes, what is meant for us finds its way back, often when we least expect it. And I felt it was the perfect moment to write this story down. A story about a scent, a memory, and a small bit of joy that came back to me. A few years ago, during a visit to my friend Karthika’s home in Chennai, she gifted me a bottle of body mist. Her brother lives in the United States and often brings her a collection of perfumes from there. She handed me one, and I took it back to my hostel, feeling happy and grateful. I was excited to try it. But when I sprayed it for the first time, I found the scent a bit too strong for my liking. It did not feel like something I would wear, so I passed it on to my roommate Arya, thinking it would suit her better.

I have always had this habit of collecting perfumes and body mists. At one point, I had way too many bottles lined up on my shelf. Then came the corona years, and somewhere along the way, that habit faded. Maybe it was the pause the world took, or maybe it was just age catching up with me. I even gave away a few to my friends, stopped impulsive buying, and made a quiet promise to myself to buy only when I finish a bottle. (Though I do break that promise at times. But whatever said and done, I just have two bottles with me now.)

Arya worked night shifts and used the perfume every day for office. Every evening, when I returned from work, the room would be filled with its scent. And slowly, something shifted. What once felt too strong began to grow on me. The fragrance started feeling familiar and comforting. It reminded me of coming back to a peaceful space at the end of a long day. But by then, it was no longer mine. I had already given it to Arya, and I could not bring myself to ask for it again. Determined to get one for myself, I walked into a Bath and Body Works store in Chennai, hoping to find the same body mist. The staff told me the variant I was looking for was only available in the United States. I was disappointed, but not ready to give up.

Soon after, one of my teammates got a chance to travel to Australia for work. I excitedly asked him to check in all the Bath and Body Works stores there. I even kept messaging him regularly, eager for an update. But sadly, he could not find it either. I was upset for a while, and then as time passed, I slowly let it go. About a year later, I visited my cousin Daino in Thodupuzha. As we were getting ready to go out, she paused for a moment and said, “Chechi, your perfume smells good. Can I use it today?” I told her she could take it if she liked. I had used it many times and would not mind parting with it. She insisted on giving me a perfume in return and handed me one from her shelf.

And there it was. The very same body mist I had been searching for all those years. The scent that had once slipped through my fingers was now back in my hands, given to me with love, without me even asking for it.

Sometimes, what is meant for us finds its way back, not when we go looking for it, but when we are not expecting it at all. That small bottle, almost empty but full of memories, reminded me of how little joys can return in quiet and beautiful ways. It brought back not just a scent, but moments I had forgotten. It made me think of friendships, shared rooms, and kind gestures that stay with us. Some things come back to us just when we are ready to receive them. And when they do, they feel even more special.

I often find myself tying memories to smells. A scent can take me back to a place, a person, or a moment that I had forgotten.

Do you have a scent that takes you back to a special memory? I would love to know. Feel free to share your story in the comments.