MARTHA'S BATH AND BODY
  • Home
  • Winter Clearance Sale
  • New Scents
  • Our Story
  • Find Us
  • Reviews
    • Lotion Reviews
    • Deodorant Reviews
    • More Reviews
  • Blog
Picture

Scents, Memories, and Your Mood

4/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

Why Do Some Scents Evoke Memories?

​Have you ever caught a whiff of a scent that unexpectedly took you back to a moment in time from your childhood? For me, when I smell chlorine it takes me back to carefree days at the local pool. I love the fragrance even today for that reason. I was talking with a friend who said that the smell of rubbing alcohol was reminiscent of pleasant visits to the pediatrician as a child. Many dislike the scent, but for her it evokes memories of nurses in clean white dresses and a peaceful feeling of everything being clean and in order. Isn't it interesting how our sense of smell is so closely connected with our memories? Last month we chatted about the fragrance pyramid and how fragrances are layered based on the type and size of the scent molecules. This month I thought we could continue our chat about fragrances and how they can evoke memories and affect our moods.
The answer to our question lies in how our brains process fragrances, and this is part of the limbic system in the brain. There's some really interesting tidbits on how this process works!
Picture
​Our sensory input (including our sense of smell), our memories, and our emotions are all processed in the part of our brain called the limbic system, which sits on top of the brain stem. Scientists are still discussing exactly what structures are included in this system, but they generally agree that it includes at least the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the thalamus, the hippocampus, and the olfactory bulb (scent receptors). Honestly, I'm not going to explain all those terms to you because the details are beyond my comprehension. But here's the interesting part. Our sense of smell is processed differently than all our other senses. All of our senses except for smell are processed through the thalamus; so sight, sound, touch, and taste are all relayed through the thalamus. But input from our sense of smell bypasses the thalamus. Scents have a private relay system straight from the olfactory bulb to other parts of the brain! No wonder the connection between scents and memories is so strong! Here's an over-simplified diagram of how this works.
Picture
​Often, when you have a childhood memory associated with a scent, it was formed before you were ten years old. Usually it is a perceptive memory, not a specific memory. In other words, the scent is linked to a general feeling more than a detailed account of an specific event. This memory is deeply embedded in your long-term memory and connected to your emotions, due to how scents are processed by the limbic system. 
Because our sense of smell is so strongly connected with our memories, emotions, and even our hormones, we can use the power of scent to boost our moods when we need a pick-me-up, thanks to our limbic system! Even though we have different memories associated with certain fragrances, there are some generalities that can be made about scents and our moods. For example, we've all heard about how lavender is calming and promotes rest. Here's a chart of some common fragrances, and how they can positively affect our moods.
Picture
Next time you need some added energy for a task, try adding some grapefruit, orange, or lemon scents to your environment. Or if you'd like to uplift your mood and increase your confidence, try a floral fragrance! And you don't need to save a woodsy pine scent for Christmas. It can bring you joy all year!
Picture
Also, did you know that the limbic system is supported partly by zinc and thiamine (vitamin B1)? If we lack these essential nutrients it can affect how our limbic system functions. Maybe you've heard about the connection between losing your sense of smell and a zinc deficiency. Zinc is an important part of building our immune system as well. Not only is zinc necessary for our immune system, but it also strengthens our limbic system!  Eating foods rich in thiamine and zinc can help boost your immune system and your limbic system -- this is a win-win! 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Our Passion

    This blog is an interactive place where we can share more about natural skin care and how we create what your skin craves!

    Archives

    November 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Winter Clearance Sale
  • New Scents
  • Our Story
  • Find Us
  • Reviews
    • Lotion Reviews
    • Deodorant Reviews
    • More Reviews
  • Blog