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North West folk flare their
nostrils to reveal the best and worst smells
FRESHLY cut grass, bread that has just
been baked and sizzling bacon are among the North West's favourite smells, a
study has revealed. Researchers polled 1,000 people and found the scent of grass
that has just been cut is the most popular smell, followed by bread just after
it comes out of the oven, sizzling bacon and coffee. Fish and chips, a Sunday
roast, cakes baking in the oven and paint also appear on the list.
There were some more unusual items to feature among the best loved smells
though, with many claiming to love the whiff of rain, new books, matches and
even petrol. It also emerged that drains, off putting body odour and bins are
the most hated pongs.
Stuart Hobbs from decorating brand, Harris, which commissioned the survey to
celebrate being rated the number 1 preferred paint brush and roller brand for
home decorators, said:- "Smells are all around us and with some
particularly strong ones floating around, it's no surprise we have our
favourites; as well as a few we can't stand.
And it seems it's the homely smells that are most popular with freshly cut
grass, bread and bacon at the top of the list, all things that can help make a
house more warm and welcoming.
But as well as the ones almost everyone would be happy to say they love, there
are a few on the list, which may divide some.
Scents like petrol, barbecues and bonfires or cheese can be loved by some, but
despised by others. Everyone wants to be surrounded by nice smells, particularly
in their own home, and we go to all sorts of lengths to make sure this is the
case."
Freshly washed clothes and the smell of the
seaside also feature high on the list while the aroma given off by a real
Christmas tree completes the top 10. Fresh flowers were voted into 11th
place, with roses, vanilla, lavender, scented candles and cinnamon following
close behind. Barbecues, chocolate, lemon, freshly washed hair, log fires,
babies, the smell of a new car, a freshly cleaned house, rain, leather and
aftershave completed the top 20.
Food and drink smells feature heavily with orange, coconut, Christmas cake, lime
and doughnuts proving popular with the region. Cherry, marzipan, popcorn and
wine also made the top 50. Homely smells are extremely well loved with the scent
of a freshly cleaned house, fresh paint, new carpets and the fragrance of a
newly built house all among the best loved.
But at the other end of the scale, body odour and drains were named the most
disliked pongs, along with bins, sewage, vomit and rotten milk. Rotting food,
public toilets, nappies and garlic breath completed the top ten. The worst
smells also feature manure, sports changing rooms and fish.
Researchers found that 6 in 10 believe there are certain smells that remind them
of particular people or places, while another 7 in 10 associate a smell with a
memory. 75% even have smells which make them feel nostalgic. 83% also said they
always like to make sure their home smells nice and fresh, with room sprays, by
opening windows and making sure it's cleaned regularly the most popular ways to
keep a house smelling nice.
Stuart added:- "In addition to being rated the UK's number one paintbrush
and roller brand, we have also been voted the best quality and most reliable
paintbrush brand in the UK. To commemorate this, we have been working with top
Fragrance house, Scent Perfique, to create our own unique scent of home for our
retailers to spritz when shoppers are making important home decisions about
decorating. We thought finding out the nation's favourite smells will ensure we
get the smell right. So many of the top smells are associated with home which
really confirms to us that home is where the heart is."
| Top 50 best smells |
|
Top 20 worst smells |
| Freshly cut grass |
1 |
Blocked drains |
| Freshly baked bread |
2 |
Body odour |
| Bacon |
3 |
Bins |
| Coffee |
4 |
Sewage |
| Freshly washed clothes |
5 |
Vomit |
| Fish and chips |
6 |
Rotten milk |
| Sunday roast |
7 |
Rotting food |
| Cakes baking in the oven |
8 |
Public toilets |
| The seaside |
9 |
Nappies |
| A real Christmas tree |
10 |
Garlic breath |
| Fresh flowers |
11 |
Morning breath |
| Roses |
12 |
Plastic burning |
| Lavender |
13 |
Feet |
| Vanilla |
14 |
Old trainers |
| Scented candles |
15 |
Manure |
| Cinnamon |
16 |
Changing rooms |
| Barbecues |
17 |
Exhaust fumes |
| Chocolate |
18 |
Bleach |
| Lemon |
19 |
Fish |
| Freshly washed hair |
20 |
Gas |
|
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Gearing up for a great show
THE Woodvale Transport Festival returns
to Victoria Park in Southport next month 20 June to 21 June 2015, promising a fun
filled, value for money weekend for all the family.
Organisers have secured a wide range of free entertainment for children
including the ever popular Crazy Bears, petting centre with lizards, snakes and
other reptiles, balance bikes for young children and the Banana Roadshow with
circus skills, Punch and Judy and magic tricks. Teenagers will also be able to
put their hands on the wheel with special starter driving sessions.
General manager Peter Wood said:- "This year we have a wide range of free
entertainment. Unlike other shows we like to give visitors a great day out
without breaking the bank."
On both days the West Lancashire Dog Display Team will also be performing as
will International motorcycle stunt rider Steve Colley.
Other attractions include giant slides, craft and food marquee, giant car boot,
collectors fair, Morris dancing, a land train and numerous trade stands. A Dalek
will also be prowling around the showground.
This year will also see a new themed jazz and
blues bar with 2 eucalayle bands
from Wigan and Ormskirk and the famous Mississippi jazz band on both days. Mike
Byrne and the Sunrockers will also be performing. Strawberry Fayre, a
3 piece '70s recording band, which has already toured Europe, will support
them.
There will also be the classic and vintage car clubs, model trains and boats,
stationary engines, classic and vintage motorcycles and clubs, even more
military vehicles than ever before and Merseyside Fire Service Museum will be
displaying various engines and other equipment.
Other good news is that free parking will once again be at Princes Park, where
admission tickets will also be sold. Dogs are also welcome.
Public camping is available on site and costs just £50 for three nights.
On the gate tickets cost £5 a day for adults, £2 for children aged 6-16 and the
under 5s are free. Advance tickets are available for the two days and are
available at a reduced price via the website.
For further information visit:-
WoodvaleRally.Com or send them an email
to:-
info@woodvalerally.com.
Payment for camping and trade stands can
be made by cheque with a stamped addressed envelope to:- Woodvale Rally, PO Box
30, Southport, PR9 9ZN.
Southport Care Centre Receives Excellent
Quality Award
ALEXANDRA House Care Centre, based in Southport was
recently assessed by Prestige Quality Audits (PQR), an independent quality audit
for Residential and Nursing Homes. The assessor considered the care centre to be
very well managed and providing a safe, effective and caring service that was
responsive to people's needs.
Alexandra House is owned and operated by BEN, the 'not-for-profit'
automotive industry charity and caters for former industry employees, their
family and dependents, as well as local fee paying residents.
The audit provided a complete review covering Standard of Accommodation, Quality
of Care, General Residential Care, Health and Safety, Staffing and Maintaining
quality. The report is extensive but some key statements include:-
► Clean, well presented accommodation in a prime location with easy access to
all amenities
► Top rating of 5 stars awarded again for food hygiene
► Excellent care quality due to well managed, dedicated, highly trained and
caring staff
► Care is comprehensively planned, assessed and reviewed
► Suitable and varied activities are enjoyed and highly rated by residents
The full report is available for anyone to read at Alexandra House.
Jan Habeck, Care Centre Manager at Alexandra House, commenting on the audit
results said:- "Again we are very proud of the audit results and are
delighted by the final report and the assessor's personal comment. It really
highlights how committed and dedicated our staff are to make our Care Centre
amongst the best in this area and the recognition is totally deserved. If anyone
is looking for local care for them or a relative, please do get in contact and
come and visit us. We pride ourselves on creating a 'home from home' environment
for our residents, a place they feel safe, relaxed and part of our family. This
is heavily influenced by our organisation's not-for-profit status as it means
our focus is on quality of life through quality care. So many of the families,
who relatives we care for, tell us this is hugely reassuring and for us it's
about offering the best standards and never cutting corners." |
