Scent a Clause

You have nose for the festive season

The neighbouring apartments needed an older man to play Santa Claus for the annual party and I was roped in for all the obvious reasons. Kamala reminded me of my lapsed gym membership – she never misses a chance to stress how my generous proportions get me certain roles in every cultural event. I went over to collect the Santa outfit from the stock of costumes in the school theatre storeroom and was given a damp musty Santa outfit that smelt of complete neglect. 

I scrubbed thoroughly with soap and water and hung it out to dry in the afternoon sun, but the rancid odour refused to disappear. Finally, I was forced to generously brandish some body spray sourced from my son’s room – a brand that promised to attract admirers like houseflies to garbage. Smelling like an airport cosmetic store, I walked into the room where Joy to the World was playing on a loop. 

At first it was just a few curious glances and then people started sniffing suspiciously, like Indians passing a public restroom. Kamala sidled up to me like Lady Macbeth looking for the perfumes of Arabia and hissed under her breath, “You’re smelling really hideous!” Everyone else seemed to have caught the scent of Santa but were not sure if they smelt something fishy or if it was just a red herring. Secret Santa was passé this year – Smelly Santa was a new tradition that we had begun.

The smells of the festive season are very special and range from the heady fragrance of rum and fruits mixed to make plum cake, to the warm wonderful smells of other special treats like kalkals and marzipan. There’s the smell of new clothes or books as presents are unwrapped and also the general scent of anticipation and excitement that fills the air together with the gentle melody of Xmas carols. 

For me, my father was my Santa, and as he held me close to his chest, I could smell the fragrance of talcum powder and soap – a clean crisp smell that far surpassed any expensive perfume in a fancy bottle. Helen Keller was bang on: “Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived.” Next year I’m making sure that Santa comes up smelling of roses.

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