Which wood do you like the smell of the most? I'm pretty fond of cherry. I have some sassafras but I haven't used it enough to comment on the spicy smell.
You might want to read that article in Fine Woodworking about the toxicity of camphor.How about Camphor?
I haven't turned olivewood, camphor, or some of the other woods mentioned, but I love the smell of white oak. It reminds me of the brandy barrels my dad used to get at work. He was a chemist for Parke Davis (now Pfizer) and they used brandy in their cough syrups. Employees could buy the empty barrels for just a small shipping fee. One time, he lucked out and got a barrel that still had almost 10 gallons still in it.I enjoy White Oak for the spice.
I'm with you. We have a lot of cherry birch and when you're turning it or chipping the branches it smells great.Birch
I feel the same way about walnut. I spent a lot of time in the basement with my dad, watching him make custom gun stocks. He had a way of covertly teaching me stuff by example and any useful skills I have are thanks to him. The first time I turned some walnut, I had tears in my eyes because it took me back to those days as soon as I smelled it. He died way too early and I still miss him.Ash! I know, that's a strange answer. I think it has to do with the way your mind can assign memories with a particular smell. Turning Ash is a pleasant smell that triggers pleasant memories.