Rain is falling all over the city. The smell of the fresh drops covering the earth evokes vivid childhood memories. Being in between the earth and the sky was one of the greatest joys. There was nothing more important than feeling the water sliding gently down the face while playing to chase puddles. Memories may vary from one person to another, but the connection between childhood and the scent of rain is a universal experience. What is more interesting is that this smell is not the only one that can bring us flashbacks. We breathe memories since we are born.
Our anatomy explains why smells triggers more vivid emotions from our past than any other sensorial experience.
THE ANATOMY OF MEMORY
Every so often, the scarlet aroma of the cinnamon coming off a hot cocoa and the salty ocean breeze draws images of our childhood. Our anatomy explains why smells triggers more vivid emotions from our past than any other sensorial experience. The nose is the only channel that connects the brain to the external world. When a scent crosses this channel, it goes straight to the memory and emotional center of the brain (behind the nose) creating a kaleidoscope of fragrant memories since we are born.
Every time we perceive a familiar smell, a memory emerges in the form of a feeling.
THE SWEET SCENT OF NOSTALGIA
Smells can awake a world of emotions. Every time we perceive a familiar smell, a memory emerges in the form of a feeling. Certain scents can bring us back a person or a moment of our life that we have not recalled for years. The glowing perfume that a friend left after a hug or the colorful scents of your first bouquet of roses may bring us thousands of emotions, evoking a sweet nostalgia.
Feeling the aroma of the dew over the flowers will connect you with the memory of the land and its people.
SHARED SMELLS, SHARED MEMORIES
Smell can also be a shared memory. Among the traditional farmer communities of Ecuador, for instance, the fragrance of solstice during harvesting is a common experience. They recognize if fruits or flowers are ready to be picked through smell. Imagine being in the middle of one of these fields full of flowers. Even if you did not grow there, the aroma of the dew would connect you with the memory of the land and its people. Live this experience with a bouquet of fresh roses grown in the highlands of Ecuador.
