Absent-mindedly scratching the inside of one’s ear only to notice later a thin film of ear wax on one’s fingertip.
Touching sticky food or newsprint.
Noticing the aroma a cat leaves behind in the litter box.
The sweat of yesterday’s whiskey or garlic.
The wet feeling of trouser cuffs that have been dampened by a stagnant puddle on the sidewalk.
Accepting praise one feels is undeserved.
The smell of a zoo.
(see: The Pillow Book)
How about:
touching newsprint after your hands have been wet and then have just become dry
the refrigerator “apr?s-smell” of a strong stinky French cheese
3 (or more) days of having no facility to wash one’s hair (or shower for that matter)
catching a whiff of one’s own morning breath after a big night of debauchery
noticing the chef of that nice meal you ate wipe his forehead and scratch his nose after you’ve eaten
walking out of Milano Centrale (the train station in Milan) and seeing “Milan”
I have to expand on your puddle note and just say “wet feet”
the sour smell of a used bib that’s been hiding in the bottom of the diaper bag long enough to dry
the hot damp ammonia smell of the nursery when you open the door in the morning and know the baby has slept too long
the diaper pail
the anonymous stain on your shirt and not knowing how long it’s been there or what it might be
not being able to figure out why your baby has been fussy for 45 minutes until you finally hold him the right way to get a whiff that tells you his diaper needs to be changed
baby bodily functions in general
Excellent lists both of you!