--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed…" description: "\"“Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between the wafty, closer smells—mainly food and human—that draped over a moment, and the dusty, dist..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg" --- # Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between… ![“Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between the wafty, closer smells—mainly food and human—that draped over a moment, and the dusty, distant smells that could be carried by coat sleeve or breeze. In the former category was the knapsack that still smelled of curry, the hairbrush left…” quote by David Shafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg) > ““Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between the wafty, closer smells—mainly food and human—that draped over a moment, and the dusty, distant smells that could be carried by coat sleeve or breeze. In the former category was the knapsack that still smelled of curry, the hairbrush left too near the stove, and the human hangover behind the counter at Kinko’s. In the latter category was the subway-tunnel vent mixed with newspaper that had snaked around her corner in Bushwick, and the tang of handrails, and the seep of wet gravel, but it also included the thinner smells that came from paper and paint and industrially produced hard surfaces.”” [David Shafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shafer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts intimate, immediate smells with distant, ambient odors, illustrating how scent shapes memory and perception. **In simple terms:** Smells evoke personal and distant memories. Key Takeaway Pay attention to how environments affect you. Themes memory perception environment scent nostalgia Mood evocative introspective Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - Travel writing - interior design - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts Sensory psychology urban experience nostalgic storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Which smells trigger your strongest memories? - How do environments influence your mood? A Different Perspective Scent can be subjective and may not translate universally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closer Smells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closer-smells-4268139/) [Distant Smells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distant-smells-4268136/) [Knapsack Smelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knapsack-smelled-4268138/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Smelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smelled/) [Smells Carried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smells-carried-4268137/) ## Related quotes > [When you chopped logs with the ax and they split open they smelled beautiful, like Christmas. But when you split someone's head open it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/when-you-chopped-logs-with-the-ax-and-they-split-open-they-smelled/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [“The future smelled of spicy cologne, and love. And it had never looked brighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-raines/the-future-smelled-of-spicy-cologne-and-love-and-it-had-never-looked/) [Hunter Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-raines/) > [“His coat smelled like Irish Spring and a little bit like potpourri.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/his-coat-smelled-like-irish-spring-and-a-little-bit-like-potpourri/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“SHE LET US INTO THE house, which had the subtle smell of old wood and old wool—as I used to imagine Victorian homes smelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/she-let-us-into-the-house-which-had-the-subtle-smell-of-old-wood-and/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [It smelled like aging wood and creosote, plastic book covers, and old paper. Old paper, which my mom used to say was the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/it-smelled-like-aging-wood-and-creosote-plastic-book-covers-and-old/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“His suit smelled of cigarettes and Breznev”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-miller/his-suit-smelled-of-cigarettes-and-breznev/) [A.D. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-miller/) > [“An older, inebriated Scot who looked like he'd been sitting on his barstool all day looked me up and down, then smelled the air.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-alten/an-older-inebriated-scot-who-looked-like-he-d-been-sitting-on-his/) [Steve Alten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-alten/) > [“She smelled of sweet safe things I hadn’t smelt in years,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/she-smelled-of-sweet-safe-things-i-hadn-t-smelt-in-years/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [“Mrs. Jones leaned in close. She smelled of wool and peppermint. "There's a man somewhere who wanted you to believe in something...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/mrs-jones-leaned-in-close-she-smelled-of-wool-and-peppermint-there-s/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [In sheepskin coats, I silence the lamb. Do you know who I am Clarice? No cheap cologne whenever I shh-shh. Success never smelled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/in-sheepskin-coats-i-silence-the-lamb-do-you-know-who-i-am-clarice-no/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“The stuff smelled nasty: like gasoline and dirty socks mixed with something sweet. Kind of like Buckley’s cough syrup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coreene-callahan/the-stuff-smelled-nasty-like-gasoline-and-dirty-socks-mixed-with/) [Coreene Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coreene-callahan/) > [“Consider me an open book" dev said. "Mi casa es su casa." Dev crinkled his nose and smelled the air. "Err, mi nose es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/consider-me-an-open-book-dev-said-mi-casa-es-su-casa-dev-crinkled-his/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“He smelled good. Sweat and motorcycle and wintergreen. No stinking weed smoke. No perfume. No sadness. He smelled like love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryn-greenwood/he-smelled-good-sweat-and-motorcycle-and-wintergreen-no-stinking-weed/) [Bryn Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryn-greenwood/) > [“She wondered if everyone could smell it on her. It smelled like death and coffee, like lilies and dirt, and it permeated her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-griffin/she-wondered-if-everyone-could-smell-it-on-her-it-smelled-like-death/) [R.L. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-griffin/) > [“He smelled like family... and Javier, but I took that as a good sign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/he-smelled-like-family-and-javier-but-i-took-that-as-a-good-sign/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) ## More by David Shafer > [“But that self-abduction shit—where you take leave of yourself, and a ghoul takes over instead, and the night comes back at you the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/but-that-self-abduction-shit-where-you-take-leave-of-yourself-and-a/) [David Shafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shafer/) > [“DADI protocol (deflect attention, discourage inquiry).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/dadi-protocol-deflect-attention-discourage-inquiry/) [David Shafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shafer/) [Explore all 3 David Shafer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shafer/) ## More Smell quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-as-soon-as-she-came-in-she/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Spirits carry an ozone scent, and demons smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. A person might not even consciously register the smell, but they’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-horn/spirits-carry-an-ozone-scent-and-demons-smell-like-sulfur-or-rotten/) [J.D. Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-horn/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I always gravitate to perfume with rose. My mom's maiden name is Rose, and the scent of my childhood was always rose. Le Sirenuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alana-haim/i-always-gravitate-to-perfume-with-rose-my-mom-s-maiden-name-is-rose/) [Alana Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alana-haim/) > [Do I Stank or was it already Stanky in Here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/do-i-stank-or-was-it-already-stanky-in-here/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [Scents as well as clothes and hairstyles can go a long way in revealing a part of yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/scents-as-well-as-clothes-and-hairstyles-can-go-a-long-way-in/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Wild honey smells of freedom The dust - of sunlight The mouth of a young girl, like a violet But gold - smells of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/wild-honey-smells-of-freedom-the-dust-of-sunlight-the-mouth-of-a/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [“My mom is having a Scentsy party tomorrow," he said. "The scented-wax thingies? Random. But go on." He laced his fingers together on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-gibsen/my-mom-is-having-a-scentsy-party-tomorrow-he-said-the-scented-wax/) [Cole Gibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-gibsen/) > [“There was a strange exciting smell in the air - the smell of wine, cigar smoke, and perfume, mingled with the scent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-was-a-strange-exciting-smell-in-the-air-the-smell-of-wine-cigar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you chopped logs with the ax and they split open they smelled beautiful, like Christmas. But when you split someone's head open it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/when-you-chopped-logs-with-the-ax-and-they-split-open-they-smelled/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) [Browse all 3,930 Smell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between the wafty, closer smells—mainly food and human—that draped over a moment, and the dusty, distant smells that could be carried by coat sleeve or breeze. In the former category was the knapsack that still smelled of curry, the hairbrush left too near the stove, and the human hangover behind the counter at Kinko’s. In the latter category was the subway-tunnel vent mixed with newspaper that had snaked around her corner in Bushwick, and the tang of handrails, and the seep of wet gravel, but it also included the thinner smells that came from paper and paint and industrially produced hard surfaces.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Shafer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed-to-cycle-between-the-wafty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Smell" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed-to-cycle-between-the-wafty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/david-shafer-84750_quote_leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed_501383.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle between the wafty, closer smells—mainly food and human—that…” — David Shafer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Shafer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shafer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Leila’s particular sensitivities seemed to cycle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed-to-cycle-between-the-wafty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shafer/leila-s-particular-sensitivities-seemed-to-cycle-between-the-wafty/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```