https://issuu.com/spiritofwriting

Spirit of Writing - Wellspring, Ngoc Lam (2025)

03/04/2025

L'ARÔME - NARRATED VERSION 📻

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(ENG)

Visit the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LU0I0j6hFvJgOUaHNI68Q

🫧“What scents shape you? What are your top, middle, and base notes?”

In L'ARÔME, Spirit of Writing's 15th issue, we dive into the world of aromas, where every scent tells a story. Now, experience these stories in a whole new way with our narrated version, available in the form of a Spotify podcast. Let the words flow, carried by voice, each one breathing life into the memories that scents evoke. Feel the rush of nostalgia, the sensation of being transported to a time, a place, or a person long gone.

If you prefer to read our publication by yourself and see how each piece is meticulously designed, don’t worry, our traditional e-magazine version is on the way! Whichever version you prefer, each will take you deeper into the sensory world we've crafted for you with their own unique bonuses and treasures.

⏳ L'ARÔME: Narrated version is updated weekly, and we will make sure to keep you hooked with new stories every time you finish the last. Stay tuned, and we hope you enjoy the wonderful works of our selected authors.

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(VIET)

Truy cập podcast tại đây: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LU0I0j6hFvJgOUaHNI68Q

🫧"Mùi hương nào tạo nên bạn? Những nốt hương đầu, giữa và cuối của bạn là gì?"

Trong ấn phẩm số 15 của Spirit of Writing, L’ARÔME, chúng mình sẽ đưa bạn vào thế giới của các mùi hương, nơi mỗi mùi hương kể một câu chuyện. Giờ đây, bạn có thể trải nghiệm những câu chuyện này theo một cách hoàn toàn mới qua phiên bản đã được chúng mình đọc lại, có sẵn dưới dạng podcast trên Spotify. Hãy để lời kể mang đến sự sống cho những ký ức mà mùi hương gợi lên. Cảm nhận dòng cảm xúc ùa về, cảm giác như bạn được đưa về một thời điểm, một nơi chốn, hay một con người đã xa vắng.

Nếu bạn thích tự mình đọc và cảm nhận cách mỗi tác phẩm được thiết kế tỉ mỉ, đừng lo, phiên bản e-magazine truyền thống của chúng mình sẽ được ra mắt sau! Dù bạn chọn cách nào, mỗi phiên bản sẽ đưa bạn sâu hơn vào thế giới cảm quan mà chúng mình đã tạo dựng, với những điều thú vị khác nhau của mỗi nơi.

⏳ L'ARÔME bản thuyết minh sẽ được cập nhật hàng tuần. Hãy tiếp tục theo dõi nhé, và chúng mình hy vọng bạn sẽ yêu thích những tác phẩm tuyệt vời đã được chúng mình chọn lọc.

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

03/01/2025

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED | ĐÓNG FORM NHẬN BÀI 🕰️

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Writing submission form: Closed!
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Thank you to everyone who submitted their work! The form is now officially closed. Your words, like intricate notes in a fine fragrance, will linger with us as we review each piece with care.

We’re deeply grateful for your contributions and can’t wait to dive into the stories you’ve shared. Stay tuned as we unveil the next steps on this creative journey.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Cảm ơn tất cả các bạn đã gửi bài! Form nhận bài hiện đã chính thức đóng lại. Những câu chữ của bạn, như những nốt hương nhẹ nhàng, sẽ còn vương vấn trong lòng chúng mình khi mỗi tác phẩm được cảm nhận và trân trọng.

Chúng mình vô cùng trân trọng sự đóng góp của bạn và rất háo hức để khám phá các câu chuyện mà bạn mang đến. Hãy theo dõi để cập nhật những bước tiếp theo trong hành trình sáng tạo này nhé!

Nếu có bất kỳ thắc mắc nào, đừng ngần ngại liên hệ với chúng mình nhé!

CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

31/12/2024

DEADLINE EXTENDED 🎉

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As the year comes to a close, we’re excited to share some good news! By some of your requests, we’re extending the submission deadline to January 3rd, 2025.

Take this extra time to perfect your work, polish every detail, and share the scents and stories that mean the most to you. Let’s start this new year with creativity and inspiration!

The year 2024 is coming to an end! 🥂✨ May your new year be filled with joy, growth, and unforgettable memories.

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Khép lại một năm đầy cảm xúc, chúng mình có tin vui đây! Theo mong muốn của nhiều bạn, hạn nộp bài được gia hạn đến ngày 3/1/2025.

Hãy tận dụng thêm thời gian này để hoàn thiện tác phẩm, chỉnh sửa từng chi tiết và chia sẻ những mùi hương và câu chuyện ý nghĩa nhất với chúng mình nhé.

Năm 2024 đang sắp đến hồi kết rồi! 🥂✨ Chúc bạn một năm tràn đầy niềm vui, sự trưởng thành và những kỷ niệm đáng nhớ.

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

30/12/2024

DEADLINE REMINDER | NHẮC HẠN NỘP BÀI 🕰️

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
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The deadline is fast approaching! After today, the submission form will be closed, so be sure to submit your work on time. Like the perfect balance of notes in a fragrance, now is the time to refine your work, adjust the little details, and let your story truly shine. If you wish to have a bit more time to review your work, please message us.

Each word you choose is like a scent—it lingers, it tells a story, it connects. Don’t miss this chance to share the aroma of your memories with us. 💌

We’re so excited to see the stories you’ve created!

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Hạn nộp bài đang đến rất gần rồi! Form gửi bài sẽ được đóng sau hôm nay, vì vậy bạn hãy nhanh tay hoàn thiện bài viết để gửi cho chúng mình nhé. Giống như những nốt hương hòa quyện hoàn hảo trong một mùi hương, đây là lúc bạn tinh chỉnh tác phẩm của mình, chăm chút từng chi tiết nhỏ cuối cùng, và khiến câu chuyện tỏa sáng. Nếu bạn vẫn cần thêm chút thời gian để chau chuốt cho bài viết của mình, hãy nói với chúng mình nhé.

Mỗi từ bạn chọn giống như một mùi hương—chúng vương vấn, kể chuyện, và gắn kết với nhau. Đừng bỏ lỡ cơ hội gửi gắm “hương thơm ký ức” của bạn đến chúng mình nhé. 💌

Chúng mình rất mong chờ được khám phá những mùi hương và câu chuyện mà bạn mang đến!

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

25/12/2024

THE SCENTS OF CHRISTMAS 🎄

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🎅🏼 Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024

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What is Christmas… to you?

Crisp snow crunching under boots?
The earthy crackle of firewood in a warm hearth.
Sweet vanilla cookies cooling on the counter?
Or that unmistakable spice—of cinnamon, cloves, and nostalgia?

This 25th of December, SOW invites you to stop scrolling, close your eyes, and let the scents of the season lead you back to moments you’ve long forgotten. Moments that feel like a hug, even now.

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“in the smell of Christmas night
we knew this was what love sounded like—
splitting open in the heat,
the slow, deliberate exhale of firewood
turning itself into ash,
a kind of surrender. the snow outside
fell too softly to hear,
but the cold carried its scent:
sharp, metallic, alive over the earth.

even the cookies held the memory of hands—
flour-dusted, clumsy, eager. we made a mess
of the kitchen. we made a memory of the mess.
and the air—sweet and warm,
like the way a name softens when uttered with love.

in the hallway, the scents stills
as though it too had learned to wait.
but it held everything in silence:
cinnamon and pine,
vanilla and smoke,
the edges of spice,
the soft hum of something whole.
it smelled like belonging,
like the absence of loneliness,
like the way love folds itself
into every corner and says,
“stay.”

This is Christmas.
This is what it means to come home.”

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It’s not just the season—it’s the scents that make it. This Christmas, we dare you to lean in. Let the crackling wood, the crisp snow, and the faint smell of spice take you somewhere only you can go.

Merry Christmas from SOW.

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

23/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 🏡

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(home)

“Everyone in their life, whether they've moved houses or resided in the same home for their lives, must have a place their heart yearns to return to. Well, so do I. I've only moved houses once in 16 years. Regardless of the move, the old home’s silhouette never once left my mind.

When I came back to my old home 3 years later it was still the same, the old home stood crooked on the side of the road, surrounded by large logan trees casting shadows on the window sills. The home itself is now empty, with the bare minimum of wooden furniture and household items that were too insignificant to be brought to the new house. The sight of crooked furniture, bed frames and wooden floors brought me back to when I was a 6 years old kid. In my past self’s eyes, these household items would have looked so much more vibrant and alive. Despite the sight and sound of the old home, the scent of cinnamon from the old wooden floors and furniture made the sensation of nostalgia rush back into my mind.
The scent of cinnamon would bring me back to my middle school days. Back then, I’d have to walk up a set of stairs before getting into my house. The stairs were made out of wood with brick walls on either side and a single light bulb at the end of the staircase before the turn. From time to time, the light bulb would have trouble turning on, causing me to run up the stairs and fall face first onto the wooden staircase. The scent of cinnamon wood mixed with wall debris would rush up my nose with every breath I took out of pain. Every day then, I’d practice yoga with my dad on the wooden floor of my big bedroom. The large room would have an empty area in the middle with a window leading to the balcony to let in the sunlight, on the floor, once again, every time me and my dad would lower our faces onto the ground, that same aroma of wood would flow through my nostrils. The aroma would also bring me back to when I’d play hide and seek. One time, I hid inside the closet made out of wood, and once again the same scent of cinnamon wood engulfed my mind. Every night, where I’d share the same mattress with my parents, there would be that same smell every time I toss or turn.

Back then, the aroma was never registered in my mind as anything significant, just the simple smell of wood. Now, standing in the same room I’ve lived in for 14 years, that scent has gained a new meaning, it was the scent of home. May the eyes feast with the sight of home, but the aroma of cinnamon will be what brings back the most memories and nostalgia.”
✒️ Phạm Gia Tuệ Trân

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

22/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum ☔

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(petrichor/a familiar scent)

“Do you know the scent of something that you can’t quite describe but it just brings to you a sense of calmness and nostalgia like those liminal space pictures where it’s difficult to pinpoint specific details however the feeling of similarity is so strong?

I’ve been studying very late recently and would stay up past midnight most of the time. Most nights are dry and tiring, the turning spin of a fan is only noise that keeps the mind at bay from wandering and I sit there aimlessly going back and forth relearning academic topics. One time in my usual routine, my nose caught a sniff of a cold wet breeze passing through. The closest thing I could associate that to is the smell before it rains, a Petrichor, you can easily tell by the cold air combined with an earthly touch such as freshly cut grass. However the scent I got also had a minty note to it.

It reminded me a lot of the time I went to New Zealand to visit my relatives when I was extremely young. On one occasion I remembered we were outside for whatever reason, probably to enjoy the natural scenery. It was the afternoon, at the time it was winter and the white powdered snow covered everything from lamp posts, benches and the dark green pine trees. There was a thick fog that loomed a few distances ahead, due to the cold weather the natural wildlife stayed put and made no sound, the ambient noise was a subtle hum that encapsulates your ear drums and sends a constant signal to your brain that soothes whatever anxious thought you had. It wasn’t a sunny afternoon but no gloom either, the sky carried with itself a light gray hue with a moody under-glow present. Being New Zealand also means that you’re not going to meet a lot of people and because of their culture most people keep to themselves in their own “realm” so only me and my relatives who remained blurred in the memory.

That is where I caught a whiff of a scent that would roam on the back of my mind. A chilly-minty breath with a side of damp grass. I just stood there taking in everything, a node of relaxation running through my spine. I’ve been so accustomed to the chaotic and fast environment of Vietnam that for once, I was finally able to take my time to process and observe the information.

Since then I’ve never been able to consistently replicate the scent, it just pops out at random intervals when it's raining or it's about to rain. You could call it nostalgia though as the dictionary defines nostalgia as “a sentimental yearning for the past that evokes feelings of pleasure with occasional notes of sadness”. That doesn’t suit how I prescribe the smell because whenever it appears I’m whelmed by calmness, not happiness nor sadness. Emotion is not a factor of its presence either, there were instances where I was bored scrolling the web when I was stressed catching up with all the assignments or when I was happy for getting a holiday break. The scent brushed past my nose and suddenly those emotions came to a halt and I’m stunned where I am.

I don’t long for this scent, it is merely a moment for me to take a breather. It's not something that I could expect and look forward to. The feeling doesn’t stay for long and the scent is pushed back far so every experience is a new one. I believe everyone has this unique type of scent where it would just brush past you out of the blue and make you engulf in its domain, whether it puts you at ease or evoke a slight sadness is a different story and is based on the person's spirit.”
✒️ Trần Anh

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

21/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 📚

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(books)

“I’ve spent years and years folded between the pages of books. I found forming relationships with books deep with meaning and different than with humans. I’ve experienced love, loss, power, adolescence, all from them, embedding every world into my own. Each book was different. The smell, the texture, the story. One is filled with laughter, wholesome memories whilst the other contains histories of grief, the feeling of sorrow, pain. They reek of an earthy smell, deep with worn out paper - invigorating the ink is.

When I was younger, books didn’t catch my interest much. They were just pieces of paper wrapped up in one story that could take you ten hours to finish when movies took two. I hated the tiny letters, I hated the images and metaphors, I hated the covers and especially, I hated the smell. Books, to me, smelled rusty, like a chain of continuous nightmares. Despite that, I’ve always tried to love it, over consuming them, storing them on my wooden shelves above my desk. But never bothered to touch them within a few hours after purchasing.

It wasn’t until third grade that I started falling in love with the flowy letters. The smell of old books scrupulously sitting on the shelves had become my comfort. To be completely honest, I do not remember how my love for books started. Though, whenever I slip into my cozy blanket with a mug of steaming hot chocolate in one hand and a book in the other, looking outside the window to see the autumn’s air, I always feel a sort of nostalgia.

My fondest memories with books are all of the times when it’d made me cry. Tears raced down my face as my eyes turned puffy red. By then, I’ve already seen myself live through the story. I’ve been there when a character dies and witnessed sadness. But it wasn’t just in tearjerkers, I’ve also cried in books about friendship or love. I like that I was feeling what the protagonist felt, an emotion far past what a person could automatically feel. I understood the characters, their quiet, private moments to their strong, care-free ones.

In every crease there was a special bond between me and the pages. One I could never form with anyone else. My world, as I would describe it, is like interlinked bundles of words made of memories in my life. I am the writer of these words, carefully lacing each moment together, creating a book that’s my life. Books are like hundreds and thousands of friends telling me their stories, each inspiring me somehow. They teach me friendship, sacrifice and letting go. The ink doesn't seem to confuse me anymore, instead, they dance through November, leaving back illustrations of the settings from each chapter.

These pages that are binded up together have become my home, a place of relaxation mixed with suspense. Their stories are lessons and different universes that I will never forget. The scent of them is engraved in my brain, letting me sense the woody, smoky smell even in the midst of the ocean. Shadows which represent the aroma will always linger around me, even when the sun dips and the moon rises, even all the way to the end of the world.”
✒️ Nguyễn Anh Thư

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

20/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 🌊

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(sea)

“What is your comfort place that you always want to lose yourself in?

I have always loved being at the sea anytime I had the chance because of its unique and indescribable scent. I am not the type of person who is interested much in fragrances, but the scent of special ones lives in my mind forever. It has been a long time since the last time I was near the ocean due to the bustle of life and concentration for future paths, thus, there was plenty of time for voyages. Yet, how lucky I was when the bottle of this scent was once again being opened, and this time, it was filled with unforgettable memories along with the seashore scent.

Sunday evening, dusk was falling down to the beach with friends all around. As I walked to the seashore, I could easily feel the familiar scent gently wafting into my nose. It was the fragrance I had always thought about, everytime the word “ocean” randomly blew on my mind. Never believed I could capture the most picturesque scenery via my naked eyes when I arrived at the shore. The color of the sea was originally a pale shade of blue, yet, it bathed in a warm, orange-yellow light, giving the color an unprecedented richness and uniqueness at that moment. Moving my view upward was the sky filled with a harmony of colors, making the setting more impermanent than ever. I felt fluttered somehow with the seashore scent all over my body while watching the scene. It was some of the best moments in my life where I could immerse myself in this fragrance without paying any money to purchase it. How did I feel? Satisfied. All emotion could be included in the feeling of satisfaction.

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my favorable scent, just like the cap of the bottle was closed by someone. Soon, I would be able to open this bottle again to capture more memories and the scent to fill up the bottle.”
✒️ Đoàn Minh Phương

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

19/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 🍋

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(lemonade)

“When June comes, it means the start of a long break for stressed-out students has finally started. Months with an outrageous amount of homework, that can possibly comatose anyone, have finally come to a pause. Summer break is also known as paradise, the time that kids can do whatever they want and sleep whenever they want to. They are neither bound by the burden of waking up early nor preventing oneself from procrastinating. Last week, a friend of mine asked me: “What scent does summer remind you of?”. For some, summer can be remembered as the tangy smell of sweat from the bright sun. The sweet, earthy scent from blooming flowers decorating Ha Noi’s city corner. As I ponder to myself, what is the scent that reminds me of summer? Lemon.‘Why lemon?’ You might ask, since lemon is a common scent. It is not as intriguing as cinnamon, or romantic as roses. Do lemons even hold any special meaning behind it?

Lemons are the main ingredient in summer’s signature drink, lemonade. The sourness from lemons and the sweetness from sugar create the perfect balance of a refreshing drink for hot days. Last summer, for some reason, me and my mom bought tons of fresh lemon and stored it in our refrigerator. My goal with the lemons was to make lemonades, so everytime me and my mother came home, there would be cold lemonade to freshen us up. My mom agreed with the idea, but she said it herself that she wouldn’t be the one making the lemonades, i would have to take the responsibility. I wasn’t as excited about making lemonade when I heard those words. But of course, my lemonade addiction was much bigger than my laziness. From that point, I decided to be responsible about making lemonades.

When I first made lemonade, it was a mess. When I cut the lemons into 2 halves, the citrusy and tangy smell came straight into my nostrils. It was as pleasant as I thought it would be. When I squeezed the lemon juice, some of it went into my eyes, causing me to frantically pour water on it as an attempt to ease the pain. Mom saw me in a distressed state, she decided to lend me a hand and together we made our first lemonade. The lemonade didn’t have enough sweet in it, but it was pretty okay for the first time making a drink. Me and my mother tried out the best portion to make the perfect lemonade from errors and trials. When we had dinner, I made sure to make lemonades as an alternative drink for the plain-old water. We took sips of my lemonade and the delicious food my mother prepared. We laughed and talked about our days as mom complimented my lemonade making skills.

I became fond of the citrus fragrant from the lemons, I love the fresh scent of the lemon zest and the tangy scent from its meat. I wasn’t sure why I am so obsessed with lemons, was it simply because of its scent? Or the citrusy fragrant the fruit provides. Then it dawned on me. The memories of my mom and I both involve lemons, our laughter due to our failed attempts of making lemonade. The giggles from my mom when a droplet of lemon juice got in my eyes. My memories are things that make the scent of lemon feel special to me. Not just simply because I like the smell of it.

To answer the question: Do lemons even hold any special meaning behind it? The answer is yes. It is not about the meaning, the name of the fruit, nor the smell. What actually matters is the memories and stories that the scent reminds you of. Everyone has different opinions on which scent is the best for them. No one is the same. But for me, I cherished the lemon scent because of the stories behind it. The pleasant memories between me and my mother, and the light-hearted laughter from mom. Memories with my loved ones are what make lemons special in my heart.”
✒️ Nguyễn Khánh Hà

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

18/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 🌸

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(nectarines)

“The scent of nectarines – juicy and honey-like, with a peachy, floral aroma. It brings a sense of comfort and a glimpse of cherished memories, a lingering nostalgia for a story I long to experience again. That was back in the summer trip seven years ago, when the scent of nectarines became the scent of a new friendship.

Traveling to Germany to visit my parents’ old school friends, I met a girl who was shy but genuinely friendly. On our road trip around Lisbon, we barely exchanged a word for the first few days, both wrapped in quiet, unfamiliar company. We both kept our distance from each other, until one sunny afternoon when we all stopped at a grassy field for a picnic. I found myself silently sitting in the shade, listening to my parents’ laughter blending with the summer air.

I remember how often we bought nectarines on that trip. My parents would coax me to have a bite of it, but I always stubbornly turned away, insistent on disliking the fruit without a reason. Just as I felt I’d refuse any attempt, the girl spoke to me at last, promising that the nectarine was worth a try. Her Vietnamese was quite poor as she’d grown up in Germany, yet the atmosphere was cordial. And it brought me a strange sense of connection between us.

The nectarine, blushed with hues of pink and ruby, its scent aromatic in the summer air – a memory I’ve held close ever since. That was the moment we began to open up, sitting side by side under the sun, each of us savoring the fruit’s softness and juice. Its scent was fresh, a swirl of honey and the warm breeze, sweet and mellow.

Now that I no longer travel abroad, reminiscing has become my only way of reliving those moments – a chance to breathe in the imagined scent of nectarine and feel my friend’s presence all over again. She still visits Vietnam once every year, always with a box of nectarines in hand, as if the fruit is a precious token of our friendship.

We don’t get to see each other face-to-face often, yet the moment I catch that pleasantly honeyed aroma, it’s like flipping through the pages of a memory book, bringing us back to that nostalgic summer road trip.”
✒️ Hoàng Kiều Ngân

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CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

17/12/2024

SPECIAL EVENT: SOW de Parfum 🌹

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Writing submission form: https://forms.gle/1op5k5UBYWvgPGP37
🕰 Deadline: 30/12/2024
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“SOW de parfum” is a special series of personal anecdotes tied to unforgettable scents, told by SOW members. Through these stories, we tell moments of love, longing, and nostalgia—each beautifully captured in a perfume profile inspired by those memories.

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(roses)

'...In all my life up to that point, I was still considered a child, a child who has to rely on their parents and even on those days where their efforts are congratulated, I can only stay there and watch. 2 years ago was when I witnessed a genuine smile on my mother’s face, the smile of happiness. This smile originated from a note from my sister, it was simple and short. Since she was on vacation with her friends, she put her words and thank yous in that small but significant note and it read, “Thank you. Thank you, mom, for everything you have done for me”. Even though I thought it was way too simple, the faintest drop of tear formed on my mother’s eyelids. This when I truly realized how happy a mom can be from even the smallest form of gratefulness from their children. So this year, I believed I was old enough to “contribute” and so my journey began.

It started on the 16th of October, when I was chatting with my friends about potential presents for Mother’s Day - it was my first time gifting so I didn’t have much of an idea. Then, a sudden scent caught my attention, it was sweet, floral and earthy. Turns out, it was a friend, who was wearing a perfume, a rose - scented perfume. That was when the thought of giving flowers came to my mind, and while it’s not the most original one, it was the one I came up with.

So I began researching, to tens of different flower shops in my streets. I search and search through instagram and facebook, trying to find a model that I like. Then, I found a bright red bouquet of roses, and after chatting with the store owner about the pricing, we settled. I booked a ride there and the moment I stepped foot into that shop, my nose was overwhelmed. From my guess, there are at least 20 different smells, but once again, that rose scent stood out to me the most. In an instant, the bouquet was in my mother’s hand, it was an unprecedented feeling of accomplishment, pride and happiness for both me and my mother. We then spent that night chatting and bonding in the presence and the symbol of that rose bouquet.

Now why did I tell you this story? Well it was to give you a snapshot of the rose - scent perfume “potential”. Try creating some beautiful memories with your family, because to me, one whiff of that peculiar scent will lead me directly back to this fateful day and remind me of the warmth my family offers, and I swear to myself that I won’t forget this in a lifetime, so bear with me and try your best to create memories with the rose scent, and appreciate your family altogether.'

✒️ Nguyễn Khải Anh
_______________
CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Spirit of Writing - Wellspring
Editor-in-chief: Nguyễn Hồng Ngân - [email protected]

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