The deep connection between scent and memory allows a simple sniff to feel like riding a time machine. Olfaction triggers memory and emotion more quickly than other senses related to sensory processing. This occurs because olfactory processing bypasses the brain’s main sensory hub, the thalamus, and sends signals straight to the amygdala (emotion) and the hippocampus (memory). This well-known phenomenon is often termed the Proustian Moment or Proust phenomenon. These memories are typically positive, emotion-centered memories that track back to childhood.
One day, I experienced this while walking my dog. I caught a sweet, floral scent and immediately felt the time warp, transporting me back to a middle school field trip with friends in winter. Sniffing the trees around me, I couldn’t find the source. After a few minutes, I realized that the smell was from the person walking behind me, so I asked what kind of perfume she was wearing today. It turned out to be a pink peach blossom hand sanitizer made from Bath & Body Works. Considering that trip happened more than a decade ago, it was surprising that a $2 fragrance could unlock such a powerful, long-lost memory.
Beyond time, the link between scent and memory can create impressive experiences. Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone London and Jo Loves, shared her personal story about the connection between home and fragrance in an interview with Educational Broadcasting System in South Korea: “I always wipe the house floor with Pomelo fragrance, but one day, there was a fire and everything was burned. I moved into an apartment, but my son said the place felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable, so I got as much Pomelo fragrance as possible and cleaned the apartment with it.” He recognized it as home and relaxed once it smelled like Pomelo again.
People feel both excited and secure through scent. It sounds strange, but I once felt like I was studying in the U.S. when I visited Fred Meyer in South Korea. I lived in Seattle for eight months when I was 4 years old and went to Fred Meyer often. Maybe that became my lasting impression of the U.S..
Ultimately, the most powerful and cherished scents are those associated with loved ones–family, friends, or pets. Smelling my dog’s paws or the clothes of someone I care about brings instant comfort and grounding. Scientifically, inhaling a romantic partner’s scents reduces stress.
Maximize your memories: Use perfume to keep moments alive
Olfactory memory is a powerful tool for preserving emotion and experience. Want to hold onto a special event forever? Anchor it with a specific scent. Before a first date, family trip, or anniversary, choose a special, distinct fragrance–a perfume, a unique lotion, or even a scented candle. When you later encounter that same smell, it won’t just remind you of the day; it will immerse you in the emotion, making you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time. Conversely, if you want to revisit a cherished memory, simply seek out the familiar fragrant products you used at the time.
Author
Maya was born and raised in South Korea and is an international student at North Seattle College, majoring in pre-nursing. She loves drawing, Mariners, and delicious food, and enjoys sharing useful information with others — from restaurant reviews to helpful tips for Seattle College students. As a staff writer, she deeply understands the power and importance of sentences, so she hopes that every student can make the most of their campus life and receive positive energy by reading the Seattle Collegian’s articles.
Be First to Comment