First it was fragrance, then fire.

Fragrance, with its delicate allure, represents the initial stages of attraction and connection—the subtle nuances that draw us towards one another. It is the gentle breeze that carries the whispers of possibility, igniting our curiosity and sparking the flame of interest. Out of my five sense, my sense of smells appeals to me the most. If I had a condition that required forgoing my senses except one, I’d keep my sense of smell. More importantly, I love good smell. Regardless of how you look or what your home looks like, the smell appeals to me first.

The first stage of attraction is looks but for me, fragrance tops the list. You could be behind me many seats away and catching a whiff of your fragrance would make me turn around but your looks can’t earn you that from me.

The beauty of a home after cleanliness is smelling good. Using diffusers, humidifiers, air conditioners or purifiers… it’s impressive. Cleanliness to Godliness , they say .

When I met my husband, it was at a prayer meeting and I was fatigued silently praying the meeting ends in minutes so I can go home . He slid into the seat next to me and I did my usual breathe in and breath out exercise that I do anytime a stranger sits next to me. I was expecting whatever smell to hit when surprisingly, this man was smelling fresh like spring water. I smiled and my fatigue dissipated. The time passed by quickly and I knew he was the one when he spoke to me with his white porcelain-like teeth. We spoke almost everyday after that and the way he takes his hygiene seriously amazes me till date.

In the tapestry of our lives, let us embrace the fragrance and the fire, cherishing the moments of enchantment while learning to tend and channel the flames of passion. For it is through this delicate balance that we find the transformative power of love and the resilience to rise from the ashes of betrayal and heartache.