The Smell of the Son

Many people around the world love a particular perfume or cologne. My mother’s favorite is amarige de Givenchy. She has been using it for many years. For more than 20 years, it has been her go to perfume. She will use other perfumes when she goes to the grocery store or the gym, but when it comes to special events, she always pulls out her amarige perfume that she previously kept in her special drawer. It has such a unique and sweet scent that I can see why she loves it so much. I have used it on a few occasions but my favorite perfume is Calvin Klein Euphoria , more affordable and I love the smell.

In the world where we are most driven by our senses, I sought to see the world's most expensive perfume. I came across the DKNY Golden Delicious perfume which is worth $1 million per bottle. I wondered how it smelled and if I met someone wearing it, would its aroma be as extravagant as its price?

The sad but comforting truth is that while we should be mindful of our physical appearance and grooming, such as smell and physical stature, the spiritual world places no value on it. Whether married or single, when we are planning to meet someone special, if we know they like a specific scent on us, we often find ourselves wearing it. We want our interaction with them to be as sweet as the perfume we wear, but when it comes to God, we often pay no attention to His desires or preferences. Whether we wear Prada, Versace, or Gucci, and spray DKNY or Amarige on ourselves and our clothes, God is not impressed, neither the spiritual world nor those around us. The only fragrance that pleases God and liberates life is the aroma of the Son, Christ. The Bible says in 2 cor. 2:15, “For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… to the latter one an aroma from death to death [a fatal, offensive odor], but to the other an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]...” 

The most expensive fragrance that cannot be bought with money, connections or fame, is the smell of the Son. Isaiah 53:7,10 says, “Yet it pleased the Lord (the Father) to bruise Him; “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth…” His blood paid for the cost of our redemption. Every time we approach God in the name of Jesus, He is reminded of the sweet fragrance of Christ's blood.

Being fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ portrayed meekness through submission, love and compassion. In like manner, we should strive to be Christ-like, being willing to suffer or be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel. When we go through difficult times, the first thing we often do is complain, tell everyone around us how life isn't fair and all the difficulties we face. Yet the Bible says that in suffering Christ did not open his mouth. We can only smell like the Son, as we become like Him, embodying His character of "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23).