So, my memory for events in my own life is well… spotty at best. My brain has prioritized “knowledge” over personal experiences. Therefore I can better explain how neurons work (nerd) or how data packets are transmitted over the Internet (geek) than what I did in high school. Or even last week. My best friend, who seems to have a strong propensity for remembering events and people in our lives, teases me that she’s going to re-invent our high school years — and I’ll never know.
However, there is a neurological ability (see — BIG nerd) that most if not all people possess (sometimes called the “nostalgic nose“) that provides us with a window to our past. Apparently, our senses of smell and taste — especially our first experiences with a particular smell or taste — are strongly associated with our memories. I’m sure you’ve taken a whiff of something and said “oh… that reminds me of ” In fact, these memories are often emotional in nature rather than just experiential (oh, such a nerd). So, you can even relive those feelings just by finding that smell again. Pretty cool, huh?

I have another scent nostalgia that I still get to relive on special occasions. About 1 year BK (before kids), hubby and I decided to take “that big trip to Europe.” While in Paris, it seemed like the touristy thing to buy some perfume. I wore this perfume for the rest of the vacation. Now, if I ever want to “go to back to Europe,” I just have to put on my perfume. Suddenly, I’m in Paris. Or Venice. Or Athens.
Do you have a scent that “takes you back”?
Advertisements
Yes, I have many of these moments, especially with scents. Except my faulty memory only works when least expected because now that I try to recall what scents take me back, I have not a clue!
Come on! Spill! What was the perfume?I'm a smeller, too. It's my strongest sense, by far.
The nostalgic nose is one of the best ways to transform an every day event to a spectacular trip down memory lane… love it when that happens!
I don't think you are a nerd. I love little scientific details, especially about memory.My nostalgic nose has been tampered with. The culprit? Pregnancy. I am very sensitive to smells before pregnancy and while pregnant? Oh crap. Thus, when I smell something now? I usually associate it with nausea and/or throwing up. Blegh.
TKW — The perfume is called "Hypnotic Poison" by Christian Dior. I don't know if it's still available, but I LOVE it! Amber — pregnancy messed with my smell. Both times. The first round: I claimed I gained a "superpower" of "super-smell." I smelled *everything.* My daughter now has a *strong* sense of smell! My second pregnancy: I had nausea throughout my entire pregnancy that was so severe that I was on the same medication that they give chemo patients just so that I could eat. I could barely enter a kitchen!
I went to Europe for my honeymoon and relate to the perfume story. We went to a perfume factory in France and of course, I bought some scents. I still have the box and the fragrance. Anytime I think of France or smell perfume I am transported back to that factory and my honeymoon.
OH yes I have scents that take me back. But true to your post I cannot for the life of me recall any of them until I catch a whiff. Isn't that silly? I can tell you that the perfume I actually spritzed on today catapults me back to the early days with my husband. When we were footloose and plain stupid. But it was a beautiful time and had we not had that, I would not have this now. Lovely NERDY post. (ps: love the nerd part. love it. no apologizing.)