No, this is not a repeat of that sex in public thread of a few days ago. But I would like to know if any of you have certain smells or sounds or tastes that remind you of trips to Europe? For example, I had some wonderful carpaccio in Siena with slices of parmesan on top. Now, whenever I eat thinly sliced parmesan, I think of Siena. Also, we had a Vernaccia from San Gimignano while in Siena and every bottle I've had here in the States takes me back to that magical night on Il Campo.

Lemon bath soap (which seems far more popular in France than the U.S.). Ever since I bought my first bar in Nice years ago, that smell reminds me of the Cote d'Azur. In fact, the smell of lemon in general reminds me of France & Italy.

But seriously, folks, the smell of coal burning is close enough to the ubiquitous (sp?) smell of turf fires in Ireland.

Raclette - "perfumed" my SIL's restaurant in Megeve the day after "all you can eat nights".<BR><BR>Church bells.

To split hairs (hey, it's Fodor's!) I think you mean "sensual" rather than Sensuous...sensual to me would be the smell of acres of dog crap in Paris. Sensual would be the lap dance I got for free in a Strip Joint in Soho.

Per the American Heritage Dictionary:<BR><BR>Sensuous: Appealing to or gratifying the senses.<BR><BR>Sensual: Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites.