Anyone addicted to perfumes or scent memories? Have you ever chased someone down to ask them which perfume they were wearing?
Well, in. my case, the answer is yes, and my brain ties certain smells and tastes to positive memories.
Over the years, I have built a strong perfume addiction and have over 60 name brand fragrances. You know which ones are my favorites? The ones tied to a memory like Angel by Mugler, Flowerbomb by V&R, or Absinthe by Avon.
Scent memories: I remember when my grandma sat me down on her lap when I was 5 or 6 to help her eat her order of deep fried catfish with a side of strong black iced tea.
Something about the black tea with lots of sweet n low sugar in it made me feel closer to my grandmother. Whenever I smell iced sweet tea now, it brings me back to that memory like an addict. I recall the old phone hanging on the wall and how much sweetener she added to the tea. Everything about that moment is seared into my mind.
Another scent memory has to be when my aunt gave me a $20 bill. I couldn’t help but sniff the bill because it had her fragrance. I asked her what that smell was and she said it was patchouli oil. You better believe that, when I turned 18, I went to buy my first bottle of patchouli from The Body Shop. It had to be 4 ounces or something, because it lasted years.
I used to bathe myself in the oil and people would tell me I smelled like Christmas, while others told me they hated it. Oh well! I was in love and I thank her for the memory.
Recently, my spouse told me that my armpits smelled like tomatoes and it made me laugh. I hate raw tomatoes but maybe it makes him think of me. Every now and then I go to our tomato plant, rub a leaf, and ask him what it smells like. HAHA.
Smell is a powerful tool and I really love it when it’s tied to a positive memory. Certain scents are also known to calm the nervous system, like lavender or eucalyptus. While I do not enjoy perfumes with those scents, I have found that they relax me and remind me of a spa.
Thoughts: Scents and perfumes can be a tool that we use to heal ourselves and connect with ourselves. Our brains are writing a story and those scent memories were key points. If the smell is bad, we learn to avoid it forever. But if the smell is good and happy, we tend to smile whenever we smell it.
Challenge: Find a scent that brings you positive emotions and thoughts.
