A Smell That Reminded Me of Boot Camp

[cherrypointmarine]

My wife got tired of my deodorant/anti perspirant of ruining my shirts . She did her homework and came up with a just plain deodorant Speed Stick . The first time I put it on I had flash backs to boot camp , almost 50 years ago . It hit me hard , I ended up pulling out my book that they gave out , man did we look young . This has never happened to me , so it was pretty weird that it would happen at my age .

 

[AJ]

My wife got tired of my deodorant/anti perspirant of ruining my shirts . She did her homework and came up with a just plain deodorant Speed Stick . The first time I put it on I had flash backs to boot camp , almost 50 years ago . It hit me hard , I ended up pulling out my book that they gave out , man did we look young . This has never happened to me , so it was pretty weird that it would happen at my age .

Sometimes you can smell something that flashes the memory button in your brain. For me it is usually kerosene, it reminds me of being on a Flight Line or carrier deck. JP-5 is nothing more than a better grade of kerosene. Great memories!!

 

[Truckman]

For me it is usually kerosene, it reminds me of being on a Flight Line or carrier deck. JP-5 is nothing more than a better grade of kerosene. Great memories!!

That does it for me as well...The smell of kerosene conjures up memories of JP-4, and the strange desire for the hot chow hall coffee my flight chief would bring out in his truck to all his crews out working the flight line......Ben

 

[bigwheelzip]

Had a few forum members discuss memories of the mud, jungle, and river, when I posted photos of my granddaughter's trip on the Mekong River.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[arjay]

Ivory soap reminds me of a pretty ginger named Mary from 45 yrs ago ;-)

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I remember boot camp every time I smell sweat, farts & cigarette smoke.

 

[Golddollar]

I remember boot camp every time I smell sweat, farts & cigarette smoke.

Together or separately?

 

[SMSgt]

The smell of stale urine gives me flashbacks to a high school tour of an insane asylum.

 

[Doug M.]

Scent is a relatively powerful memory trigger.

 

[Rustyt1953]

re boot camp:

 

[FlyTyinFool]

Yep!

Kerosene reminds me of jet fuel.
Wet cat food smells exactly like Spam (yes, I still eat it!)

Burnt oil in exhaust reminds me of an 87 Bronco II, that I drove for a year before it gave up the ghost.
Burnt transmission fluid reminds me of my late-70s Monte Carlo, before it got parked and sold.
Burnt brakes remind me of my 78 Volkswagen Sirocco after a hot run down Chuckanut Drive, in Whatcom County.

sigh...

 

[JohnRippert]

Ivory soap reminds me of a pretty ginger named Mary from 45 yrs ago ;-)

Indeed. Chanel No5 and a wonderful young lady from 35 years ago.

 

[beach elvis]

After holding out for 40 years from first wanting it to finally buying one, I LUCKED into finally acquiring my life's M1 Garand in incomprehensibly mint shape, down to the original cleaning kit in the buttstock. I showed it to my retired military/FBI bud. When he smelled the wool mop, he said that smell immediately took him back to the WW2-era tents that they used in boot camp in the 60's. Identical smell that he hadn't experienced in decades.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

AJ & Truckman , I'm with you on the smell of diesel tied with the smell of JP4 , When I get behind the right truck , I go back to the flight line . Getting out early , I was a PC for a while , and starting up the tugs to start the day comes back to me .

 

[jdlii]

During my teenage years, I frequented Army Surplus Stores that had real, G.I. surplus items including the small, green, screw top cans of bore cleaner. When ever I was cleaning guns with the bore cleaner my Dad would always comment on how it reminded him of basic training and cleaning weapons after a day at the range, qualifying recruits before he shipped out to the Pacific Theater.

 

[2tall79]

I'll never forget the smell in the building and the clothing where they issued you your Army costume. (1969)

 

[Jimmyjones]

The moldy smell of a GP.

 

[kimporter]

As I stated in another post,Irish Spring soap(I believe our entire bct company used it) coal smoke,diesel fumes,mildewed canvas,all take me back,having been raised on a farm the coal and diesel smell just made me homesick

 

[Chubbs103]

Simple Green.
Wet TA-50.

 

[AJ]

I'll never forget the smell in the building and the clothing where they issued you your Army costume. (1969)

You wore costumes?