Perfume and Memories

Perfume Brings Back Memories

You may have thought, wow this scent reminds me of university, a holiday, a parent, a boyfriend, a visit to the hospital or maybe your wedding day!

There is a very logical explanation for why this link is so powerful. Our olfactory (smell) receptors are directly connected to the limbic system of the brain, thought to be the memory and emotional perception centre. It's the emotion that we recall first, not necessarily the circumstance. Very often we can't put a name to these odours yet they have a strong emotive association even if they can't be specifically identified.

I have for example had two responses regarding perfume and marital relationships. A women refuses and can’t tolerate wearing a perfume her ex-husband gave her because the emotions are too painful to bear. Alternatively a woman only wears the perfume that her husband gave her on her wedding day because she treasures the positive feelings and emotions that were experienced on “their special day”.

Interestingly 67% of women wear the same perfume that they wore on their wedding day. This is good news!

These sayings are also food for thought:
Smell of deathSmell of fearSmell of troubleSmell the roses
To elaborate on the power of our sense of smell, people recall smells with 65% accuracy after a year, while the visual recall of photos sinks to about 50% after only three months.

Which perfumes have provided you with lasting and positive memories and why?


Written by: Diana Rankin
[Source:perfumepower.co.za]

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