Colour poems utilize different colours to represent emotions, ideas, and more. When writing about the colour blue, poets often associate it with calmness, sadness, or nature. However, colour poems try to engage all the senses, so what does blue smell like in a colour poem? Here’s an exploration of how poets can convey the scent of blue.
The Basics of Colour Poems
A colour poem uses colours as a central motif and structuring device. The poem associates colours with emotions, memories, ideas, or sensory experiences. For example, a poem may describe the colour red as intense, passionate, or tasting like cinnamon. The goal is to create synesthesia, connecting the colour to sensations.
To determine what blue smells like in a colour poem, the poet must consider:
- Common symbolic meanings of blue
- Blue items found in nature
- Memories and emotions evoked by blue
The poet can then select scents that complement the vibe of blue. This builds a multi-sensory experience for the reader.
Symbolic Meanings of Blue
Before deciding how blue smells, it helps to consider the colour’s symbolic meanings:
- Calmness – Blue evokes feelings of relaxation, peace, and tranquility.
- Sadness – Darker blues are associated with sadness, melancholy, or depression.
- Stability – Blue suggests steadiness, confidence, and intelligence.
- Nature – Blues of sky and sea connect to natural landscapes.
- Coldness – Blue can suggest frigid temperatures.
- Masculinity – In some cultures, blue represents masculinity and boyishness.
Certain scent profiles complement these symbolic meanings better than others. For calmness and stability, fresh, clean scents work well. For sadness, colder scents may suit blue’s melancholic side. Natural scents like rain or ocean breezes also pair nicely with blue.
Blue Items in Nature
Adding scents of blue items found in nature is another great option. Blue things that occur naturally include:
- Bodies of water – oceans, lakes, rivers, rain
- Blue flowers – bluebells, hydrangeas, cornflowers
- Butterflies – blue morphos, common blues
- Berries – blueberries, juniper berries
Describing blue as smelling like rain, sea breezes, or blueberries creates vivid imagery. It connects blue to tangible items readers can easily visualize and smell.
| Blue Item | Associated Scents |
|---|---|
| Ocean | Salty, briny, aquatic |
| Lake | Fresh, mineral |
| Rain | Clean, crisp, petrichor |
| Blue flowers | Pollen, nectar |
| Blueberries | Sweet, fruity, tangy |
Emotions and Memories
Personal emotions and memories related to blue can also inspire scent descriptions. Consider how blue makes you feel based on past experiences. For example:
- A childhood memory of a happy, breezy day at the beach with your family
- Feeling an instant calming sensation when looking at a beautiful blue sky
- The crisp, clean scent right after a refreshing spring rain
You can then translate those feelings and sensory details into poetic descriptions. Here are some sample scent descriptions inspired by memories:
- “Blue smells like suntan lotion and salty ocean air at the beach”
- “Blue is the sweet aroma of damp grass after an April shower”
- “Blue smells like freshly laundered linen drying on a breezy clothesline”
Scent Suggestions for Blue
Based on symbolic meanings, natural items, and memories, here are some recommended scents to describe blue:
- Aquatic – Ocean, rain, river, waterfall, storm
- Floral – Bluebell, hydrangea, iris, violet, lavender
- Clean/Fresh – Linen, cotton, laundry, soap, air
- Nature – Grass, leaves, petrichor, woods, sky, dust
- Fruity – Blueberry, juniper berry, plum, fig
Any of these would capture the essence of blue in a colour poem. But feel free to get creative with personalized scents from memories as well.
Examples of Blue’s Scent in Poetry
Here are examples from real colour poems that demonstrate how writers describe the scent of blue:
“Blue smells like fresh fallen snow in the month of December”
-From “A Rainbow of Feelings” by Kate Marie White
“Azure tastes like wild blueberries, harvested in late summer under an endless sky”
-From “The Colours of Life” by Ella Mays
“Cobalt carries the crisp aroma of laundered denim pulled from the line”
-From “Colourful Emotions” by Clara Sutton
These examples provide inspiration for brainstorming inventive ways to describe blue’s scent in colour poetry.
Conclusion
Colour poems aim to recreate sensory experiences using vivid imagery. Determining smells for colours requires thoughtful brainstorming. For the colour blue, its symbolic meanings, natural associations, and emotional resonance provide direction. Aquatic, floral, clean, fruity, and nature scents can reflect blue’s essence. Ultimately, creativity and personal memories allow poets to craft unique scents of blue in colour poems.