Odour of Sanctity

Odour of Sanctity : this is an, as yet, unexplained, beautiful, unearthly scent that is said to exude from a number of holy persons and certain European Saints.  Two ladies said to have exhibited this phenomena include: The Blessed Maria degli Angeli, an 18th century Italian nun, who could be traced throughout her convent by her beautiful smell.  Non of the other sisters in the convent exuded this smell and Maria was so embarrassed by the whole thing, that she would place foul smelling objects nearby, but to no avail.  The second lady, was Sister Giovanna Maria della Croce.  At Rovereto in Italy  in 1625 she took her symbolic wedding vows to Christ by putting on a wedding ring, however from that moment onwards a beautiful scent exuded from her finger.  Allegedly, even items that she touched were left with a lingering smell for several days.  Eventually through time her whole body began to exude this beautiful, unearthly, fragrance and her clothes would retain the smell long after she had finished wearing them.

Source:  Dr. Karl P. N. Schuker, The Unexplained, Carlton Books Limited (1997) ISBN: 1-85868-384