Smells Like Home! 13 Smells That Are Sure To Remind You Of Lebanon

When you live abroad, Lebanon becomes so much more beautiful in your mind than it ever was in reality, and you’ll find yourself reminded of your beautiful country at every turn, from food, to colours, and even smells. Here are some smells that will always bring you back home!


1. Manakeesh



Nothing smells as nice as a fresh warm mankoushe from your favourite foron back home.


2. Garbage



Can you even pretend like this isn’t accurate? Come on.


3. Bakhour



The beautiful smell stays in your house for days afterwards, and it’s the most calming scent in the world.


4. Burning Tires



Again, it’s just a reality. You can’t deny it.


5. Coffee and cigarettes



This unique mix of smells will always bring you back to early university mornings and second-hand smoking.


6. Knefeh



If joy were a smell, this would be it.


7. Freshly cut kezabra and toum



Before any Lebanese meal is cooked, these two starring ingredients send smells of deliciousness all over the place.


8. Onions frying



The true sign that you’re in for a meal that’ll be absolutely delightful.


9. Saboun baladeh



This scent is the epitome of what home smells like. Clean sheets and warm baths are never complete without this one smell. Bath bombs who?


10. Markouk



Hand kneaded dough from this ancient recipe always smells sublime.


11. Zaatar w zeit



Never mind the restaurant, we’re talking about the original fragrance of fresh zaatar and delicious olive oil.


12. Arak



Is a family lunch ever complete without the smell of arak? Liquorice-y and sweet, this smell brings you right back home.


13. The sea



The one uniting facet of the entirety of Lebanon is our love for the sea, and the Corniche’s special smell will never compare to what you can get a whiff of abroad, but the smell of the sea will always remind you of home.