Girlhood in 5 Senses

Girlhood isn’t a phase you grow out of. It’s a full-sensory experience — sticky, sparkling, heart-wrenching and oddly comforting. It’s not just about pink scrunchies or sad playlists (although, yes, those are essential). It’s about the tiny things that shape us — the things we remember in flashes. The way something felt, or smelled, or sounded, during those tiny, chaotic, perfect moments we never thought we’d miss.

So here it is:

Girlhood, described in five senses.

No disclaimers. No clean edits. Just vibes.

Smell

The first thing you ever overused was vanilla body spray. Heavy, sweet, borderline suffocating — but comforting in the same way a warm hug from your old duvet is. That smell lived in the sleeves of your sweaters, your scarves, your tote bags, your hair. It was your personality for a little while.

There’s also the sterile sting of nail polish remover, or the burnt scent of your straightener when you forgot to use heat protectant (again). The fruity-gum-chewing breath before kissing someone who didn’t deserve it.The too-strong whiff of dry shampoo covering four days of regret.Micellar water soaked into cotton pads, as you wiped off mascara tears and sparkly eyeshadow — and maybe some bad decisions.

And sometimes, girlhood smells like your mom’s perfume. Like growing up too fast. Like something you wanted to become.

Sound

Girlhood is loud. But not always in a literal way. It’s the shriek-laughter of your best friend showing you his new girlfriend's Instagram (ugh). It’s that one heartbreak anthem you swore you’d stop playing — but didn’t.

It’s the background noise of your life: hair dryer in the morning, the clack of fake nails on your phone screen, the TikTok audio you quote daily, even if no one else gets it.

There’s also the silence. The kind that’s not peaceful — the kind where you’re overthinking texts, rereading messages, staring at your ceiling while your Spotify cue softly spirals into “maybe I am the problem.”

But then there’s that one drive with the windows down, screaming lyrics with your girls, and suddenly you remember: you’re the main character, babe. Always have been.

Touch

Burnt fingers from curling wands. The sting of a too-tight ponytail you swore made you look like Bella Hadid. Sticky lip gloss that your hair always got stuck in. Mascara flakes on your cheek when you forgot to use waterproof but definitely cried anyway.

Girlhood is glitter — everywhere. On your hands, your face, somehow your elbows? It’s the softness of your favourite sweatshirt, stolen or thrifted or both. It’s the pinch of heels you wore to feel grown, but only made you want to cry in the bathroom 40 minutes into the party.

And it's hugs in the school hallway. The ones you didn’t know you needed.It’s your best friend painting your nails while you overshare about the boy who ghosted you (again).It’s walking barefoot in your kitchen at 2AM, thinking, “Is this adulthood?” and immediately deciding no — just girlhood in heels.

Taste

Everything tastes better when you’re a little sad and dramatically chewing gum like you're in a coming-of-age movie.

Iced coffee that’s mostly oat milk and vibes. Strawberry lip balm you keep accidentally eating. Lip gloss with glitter and a slight aftertaste of hope. There’s the powdered sweetness of protein bars you pretend to like. The chocolate you said you weren’t going to eat but needed anyway because, yes, Mercury is retrograde again.

And then there’s the taste of tears. Not tragic ones — the cathartic kind. Followed by a snack and a pick-me-up text from your favourite person that says: you’re gonna be okay, drama queen.

Sight

Girlhood looks like chaos disguised as cute.

Vanity covered in half-used serums and lash glue. Closet doors you can’t close. Journals half-filled with to-do lists, doodles, and declarations of independence. A digital camera roll full of mirror selfies, blurry night pics, and 57 shots of your outfit from slightly different angles (you will post one eventually).

It’s moodboards, Pinterest folders titled “Maybe Her,” and quotes like “romanticize your life” that you actually take to heart.

It’s staring at yourself in the mirror and asking, “Am I the drama?”Answer: maybe. But you’re also the designer, the director, and the muse.

Final Thoughts:

Girlhood isn’t simple. It’s layered, like the lip combo you finally perfected.

It’s soft and unhinged, glamorous and anxious, glittery and tired.It’s a million tiny moments that feel like nothing until you look back and realize:

That was everything.

So here’s to the scents, sounds, touches, tastes, and sights of the soft chaos we call girlhood.

Still living it. Still romanticizing it.

Keeping them guessing, Always.

xoxo, Bella James