Reading Life in Five Senses, I felt seen. Gretchen Rubin’s reflections on the senses are a soulful reminder that our bodies are not just vessels — they’re portals to presence. Her invitation to pay attention to smell spoke straight to my spirit. There is such grounding in noticing — in choosing your signature candle, inhaling eucalyptus on a walk, or simply pausing to let the scent of fresh rain pull you back into now. For those of us navigating life without a co-pilot, the senses become our companions. And smell, in particular, has this magical way of saying, you’re not alone — the world is right here with you.
This is the quiet luxury of solo living: building a life that smells like you. That means vanilla when you need soft, citrus when you need bold, lavender when you want to exhale. It means walking through the day like a garden you planted with intention — every scent a reminder that you are alive, awake, and worthy of beauty. That’s what Rubin’s book stirred in me — not just awareness, but reverence. Because when we tune into scent, we’re not just noticing the world… we’re fully participating in it.