May 11, 2025
Science

Why do some scents immediately take us back to our childhood? Do you smell that sweet smell of your mom’s cookies?

  • October 13, 2024
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A scent that suddenly reaches our nose almost makes us feel travel in time It takes us to our most unforgettable moments. Although we all experience this, we

Why do some scents immediately take us back to our childhood? Do you smell that sweet smell of your mom’s cookies?

A scent that suddenly reaches our nose almost makes us feel travel in time It takes us to our most unforgettable moments.

Although we all experience this, we forget to ask ourselves: why do some smells affect us so strongly? Does it have to do with our past?

Going back in time with a scent, also called the Proust effect, is directly related to our brains.

Proust effect

Smell is one of the most powerful of our five senses, but what makes it even more interesting is that The part of our brain that perceives smell It is directly linked to memory and emotions.

The smells that come to our nose, olfactory bulb The brain that manages our emotions, memory and behavior through a so-called structureis sent to the stationary system. That’s why it’s actually a fragrance, it doesn’t just remain a fragrance, it also takes you on an emotional and evocative journey.

Especially the smells from childhood are much more strongly engraved in our memory because our brains are at that age. both learning and collecting memories more open.

When we learn something new or experience a new emotion, smells are closely linked to these memories. Therefore, scents are identified with our childhood memories, even after years It can affect us deeply.

Nostalgic memories triggered by scents are often associated with strong emotional experiences.

the smell of childhood

The smell of the food your mother cooked in your childhood not only gives you a memory of the taste. At the same time at that dining table happiness, conversation And perhaps it also reminds us of sadness.

Emotional bonds make scents more deeply engraved in our memory. Memories recalled through smell are also more sensitive than visual or auditory memories. more emotional and lively.

Why is our smell memory so permanent compared to other senses?

remember smell

The answer lies in the way smell works in the brain. Compared to other senses, sense of smell faster and reaches directly to the limbic system.

This system is more of the brain the unconscious and primitive part. That’s why scents often leave a mark on our minds without us noticing. Even that small moment of awareness is enough for a scent to take us back to our childhood even decades later.

What is the impressive smell from your childhood?

Sources: LiveScience, The Harvard Gazette, Discovery, Prevention, Popular Science

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