The Power of Scent
For as long as I can remember, smells have played a crucial role in my
memories, almost as much as music has. There are some smells that
continue to evoke childhood events, people and things, which I imagine
will always be the case.
Vanilla makes me think of my sister, who happens to be (or at least was, for a long time) a huge vanilla fan. Orange marmalade (and donuts, for that matter) makes me think of living in England, and honestly I have no idea why. Freshly cut grass brings to mind the playground at school. Peaches remind me of my teenage years, snow (yes, it does smell) reminds me of wintertime in Denver, sunscreen makes me think of almost all the fabulous vacations I’ve taken, and Irish Spring makes my husband pop into my head.
It’s amazing how the brain equates almost everything with a smell, and it’s amazing how some places, regardless of where or how many there are, all smell the same. Schools are a wonderful example of this. It must be the books, paper, backpacks and lockers that make this happen. Despite the amount of different people attending every day, a lot of schools seem to have that same smell that inevitably makes all of us think of the good and bad times we had there.
A smell is so important to an identity, which explains our fascination with fragrances, and our urge to find the perfect scent for us to wear. This is important not just for people, but for places too. Some places naturally smell incredibly appealing, like tropical locations filled with exotic flowers and fresh breezes. I have to believe there’s a reason for that, and I’m sure it has something to do with our own enjoyment. It’s common practice in real estate for realtors to use things like freshly baked cookies and flowers in an attempt to entice possible homebuyers, and many public places and even stores try to entice with an inviting smell.
So go on a little adventure and find that scent that speaks to you (if you don't already know). Find the one (or in my case, ones) that excites, inspires and makes you feel comfortable. It's kind of fun rummaging through the racks looking through all the unique bottles, and now, with those fancy displays that tell you what scents are most 'you', it's even more addicting. So go on and brave the shopping crowds, and have fun.
Vanilla makes me think of my sister, who happens to be (or at least was, for a long time) a huge vanilla fan. Orange marmalade (and donuts, for that matter) makes me think of living in England, and honestly I have no idea why. Freshly cut grass brings to mind the playground at school. Peaches remind me of my teenage years, snow (yes, it does smell) reminds me of wintertime in Denver, sunscreen makes me think of almost all the fabulous vacations I’ve taken, and Irish Spring makes my husband pop into my head.
It’s amazing how the brain equates almost everything with a smell, and it’s amazing how some places, regardless of where or how many there are, all smell the same. Schools are a wonderful example of this. It must be the books, paper, backpacks and lockers that make this happen. Despite the amount of different people attending every day, a lot of schools seem to have that same smell that inevitably makes all of us think of the good and bad times we had there.
A smell is so important to an identity, which explains our fascination with fragrances, and our urge to find the perfect scent for us to wear. This is important not just for people, but for places too. Some places naturally smell incredibly appealing, like tropical locations filled with exotic flowers and fresh breezes. I have to believe there’s a reason for that, and I’m sure it has something to do with our own enjoyment. It’s common practice in real estate for realtors to use things like freshly baked cookies and flowers in an attempt to entice possible homebuyers, and many public places and even stores try to entice with an inviting smell.
So go on a little adventure and find that scent that speaks to you (if you don't already know). Find the one (or in my case, ones) that excites, inspires and makes you feel comfortable. It's kind of fun rummaging through the racks looking through all the unique bottles, and now, with those fancy displays that tell you what scents are most 'you', it's even more addicting. So go on and brave the shopping crowds, and have fun.
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