Vick’s Vapo Rub has, for as long as I can remember, been a staple in the von Doehren household. I could not escape a case of the sniffles without mom lovingly slapping that goopy mess onto my neck and chest.
What also makes Vick’s Vapo Rub significant, however, is that like so very few things, this is one thing that my nose can sense. I’m not convinced that I can actually smell what you olfies can smell, but I can detect its presence by its ability to open nasal passageways, tingling and tickling nose hairs and sinus tissue.
I once asked my husband to describe the smell for me, as again I don’t think what I can sense is exactly the same as what other people can sense. Here’s what he wrote in my dictionary of smells:
VICK’S VAPO-RUB ~ I tried describing this in something other than medical terms, but I could not . . . so here we go: the thick, sluggish smell of Vick’s Vapo-Rub is a husky, skillful nurse’s aid who thinks you should have taken better care of yourself. Its ticklish, acrid quality is reminiscent of both cough drops and cinnamon, and though I understand some people find it soothing, I consider the smell of VVR comparable to wading through oil. As medicine goes, it’s a tough love wench. Then again, I never had the experience of a close relative slathering my chest with the stuff, and I tend to reject anything that makes my eyes water. So you may want to seek out other sources here. Level of Intensity: 13 (1-24-06)
So, with that in mind, I open the attempt at a description to you all. What does Vick’s Vapo Rub smell like/remind you of?
- Aug 25, 01:32 PM
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1 · Nick S. · Sep 2, 08:05 PM
Hello Heather,
I just discovered this site. Pretty neat and well designed. From just reading the title, I thought it was a new take on business motivation, as in: learn to succeed by following the 7 tenets of neversmell.com and you too can ensure that your boss never says “that guy … smells” about you! Of course I was curious to learn what I could do to avoid that kind of embarassment.
I’m not sure if this is not just a playful thing on your part, but I’m intrigued in any case!
Oh and defining Vick’s is like defining red. It is a primal sensation that cannot be reduced by other descriptions. Rather it is the sensation upon which other descriptions are built.
2 · Heather · Sep 2, 08:11 PM
Ha! Thanks Nick! No, NeverSmell.com is literally for people who have never been able to smell, for those who can no longer smell, and for those who have never heard of such a thing as losing one’s ability to smell.
3 · Janet · Sep 3, 07:10 PM
“Tough love wench” is actually a pretty good description. Vapor rub is just so…medicine-y. There really isn’t any other way to say it. I don’t find the smell very pleasant, but one will put up with anything just to breath a little more normally when one is sick. Ever taken a shot of whiskey and felt it burn all the way down? Inhaling a vapor rub smell is similar, except it is a bit fainter. The smell seems to literally burn its way through the gunk. I will never voluntarily open a jar of vapor rub unless I am desperate.
4 · bells · Sep 14, 06:50 AM
I came here on the recommendation of a friend after I posted about not being able to smell. I can smell vicks too – although like you I’m not sure I smell it, really. I think I feel it. It feels cold. I can definitely pick it though and love menthol-based smells for that very reason!
5 · Jeana · Oct 25, 05:40 PM
mmm-Vicks-it is cool warmth and darkness and comfort and soft fuzzy blankets and the magic of Mommies. It is winter with the heat blasting you warm under piles of comforters and cold piggy-toes buried in the rumple of blankets. It is hot and cold and sharp and soft. It is Vicks.