The Impact of Odor

Most of us take our sense of smell for granted but we forget how much of an impact it has on our lives. Our sense of smell is tied very strongly to our memory. Certain scents will bring back strong memories. Perhaps the smell of baby powder can reminds you of when your kids were little. Lily of the Valley reminds me of my grandmother’s perfume. What are other aromas you have associated with memories? Do the scents of baked goods, smoke or leather invoke memories for you?

Because our sense of smell can cause almost immediate sensory recall, how can we use this to our advantage? There are a lot of ways to do this but one of my personal favorites is to choose a single perfume to take with me on a vacation. I use that fragrance exclusively during the vacation and when I get home, I put that bottle away for a few weeks. When I am needing a break and to decompress, I dig that perfume from out of my vanity drawer and spritz it on. I am immediately whisked back to my vacation and all of the delightful memories associated with that perfume.

How would you use the power of sensory recall to your advantage? How else might you use sensory recall? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!