As I was departing my primeline in the janky time machine, I spotted a hitchhiker on the side of the wormhole. Isabella Bruno is her name and she needed a lift to just a few years away from where I was already headed. She was on her way to return a shirt purchased for a family member but they sent her the wrong size. (Future large is not the same as today large. An ongoing issue with buying clothing from other timelines.)

Isabella showed me a packet that came in the garment box. It looked like a desiccant pouch, but it was actually a Place Scent packet. In the timeline she bought this shirt from, products are often shipped with a packet that emits odors from the origin of manufacturing. In this case, a cotton shirt made in Bangladesh.

I closed my eyes and took a long deep breath.

I was immediately struck with a symphony of exotic aromas. Top notes of piquant spices and smoky incense gave way to a heart of verdant flora and succulent tropical fruits. I detected base notes of rich, dark tea and earthy musk.

The overall sensory effect sparked an appreciation for where this shirt was made. It elevated commodity fashion to something more akin to a garment made by a bespoke tailor, or even that pair of mittens my mom knitted for me as a child.

That was a real trippy experience.

I thanked Isabella for sharing this discovery with me and took a quick picture of it before dropping her off at her future destination. I look forward to the next time I spot her near the wormhole looking for a ride to who-knows-when.