Who hasn't taken a trip down memory lane with a mere whiff of a familiar scent? Whether it's the woodsy smell of some old furniture that reminds you of your wonderful time in grade school, or a particular cologne that fills you with the bittersweet memories of an old lover, scents have a powerful way of stopping us in our tracks and at times filling us up with rather intense emotions--good or bad.
Yes, it's not just the information that we recall with a scent, but more importantly the emotions that go along with the memory.
According to the following article, scents go straight to the limbic system in the brain, the very place our emotions are triggered. Is it any wonder why aromatherapy is so effective in calming nerves and revitalizing one's energy? Of course, it helps that when we smell something pleasant, we take in slower, deeper breaths--often the very action that soothes us and clears our mind.
So take your time when you wake up tomorrow and smell the rich, textured layers of your coffee. And let the world stand still for you for a minute.
Yes, it's not just the information that we recall with a scent, but more importantly the emotions that go along with the memory.
According to the following article, scents go straight to the limbic system in the brain, the very place our emotions are triggered. Is it any wonder why aromatherapy is so effective in calming nerves and revitalizing one's energy? Of course, it helps that when we smell something pleasant, we take in slower, deeper breaths--often the very action that soothes us and clears our mind.
So take your time when you wake up tomorrow and smell the rich, textured layers of your coffee. And let the world stand still for you for a minute.
according to psychologist Rachel Herz, a Brown University professor who studies the psychology of smell. “A person may have no emotional reaction to seeing a photo of a loved one who died, but that person may unexpectedly encounter the same smell particular to the loved one’s study–a combination of cigarettes and books, for instance–and feel like weeping.” She notes that “those who lose their sense of smell because of accident or illness also report a loss of emotional richness and, over time, a loss of emotional intensity toward life. Experiences are flatter, they report.” Margo Valentine Lazzara writes that scents “trigger memories because of their quick access to the limbic system in the brain. It is here that scents will evoke an emotional response, such as hunger or sexual appetite. They can help you recall long- and short-term memories. If a particular scent stirs up past or painful emotions and memories and causes you suffering, then you might want to avoid this specific scent. |
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