The Power of Smell

Have you ever wondered why? Why is it that a particular smell can trigger an emotion, a memory, and a sense of comfort?

How do we recognize smells?

Have you ever stopped short because of a fleeting scent? Say, something that smells like a familiar dish? From childhood, our brain has filtered away thousands of different smells. These smells connect strongly to us because every time a person experiences a new scent, it is always linked to a person, event or thing. Think about the smell of your grandmother's cheek or your father's hug. These are quite abstract but, from deep inside, you can call up the scent from memory. The smell of grandma's cheek could actually be the face powder she uses or dad's hug really smells like his aftershave but to you, they are connected to love, caring, and sometimes, sadness or nostalgia. This is partly why we prefer some scents over others and why two people won't have the same scent preferences.

Inasmuch as people have different experiences, even while in the womb, our individual scent memories (and other sensory "memories") vary. Still, we know that there are scents that are commonly pleasing or commonly repulsive. Very few people will enjoy the scent of, say, vomit - something associated with unpleasantness and illness. While many appreciate the scent of candy or cake as many of us have enjoyed these as treats in the past. (An interesting bit of trivia - did you know that foul smells have been considered as wartime weapons?)

How does our sense of smell work?

Finding scents pleasant or revolting point to a deeper rationale behind our sense of smell: human survival and well-being. When we smell smoke, we are warned about a possible fire. We know that when food smells rotten, it shouldn't be eaten. When a newborn is carried by someone that doesn't smell right, they know that it's not mom. We know that where things smell fresh, clean and familiar, that's where we can find consolation. How do we associate smell with a particular memory? You see, the heart of our sense of smell, the olfactory bulb, is centered in our brain's limbic system. Interestingly, this area of the brain is acutely connected with memory and feeling (which is why it is also termed the "emotional brain.") Perceptions of scents, interpreting them and naming them are also seated in the powerful learning centers of our brain.

Scientifically, this is how it happens.

Odors stimulate our sense of smell through receptors in the nose, which in turn pass on electrical impulses to the brain. The brain then looks for patterns in these electrical impulses, recognizing them as specific odors. It is the olfactory bulb in the brain which weeds out smell sensations and interprets them as particular odors. The olfactory bulb is linked to our amygdala, a structure in the brain which strongly influences a person's psychological and emotional health, and the hippocampus, which governs long term memory and learning.

Changing mood with different scents Given that smell was particularly engineered to network with memory and experience, it is no wonder that scent elicits such strong reactions. And since human beings have such strong reactions to smell, then smell can also stimulate certain moods and actually DIRECT emotion. What do I mean by this? For instance, did you know that certain smells can trigger positive performance at work or in school? Conversely, smells can also induce rest and relaxation. Scents can also transform the ambience of a place or alter a person's frame of mind.

Aficionados of the practice of aromatherapy believe that pleasant smelling scents derived from plant and other oils (essential oils) can improve a person's health or mood. These oils are applied through massage or their scents are released through diffusers or, of particular interest to us, through scented candles. Remember the limbic system? Aromatherapy believes that when the right fragrance from particular essential oils stimulates the smell center in the brain, chemicals are released which changes the person's mood, promoting relaxation, concentration or triggering feelings of liveliness. Beyond just altering mood, aromatherapy practitioners vouch for the capability of scent to aid in healing the body, particularly illnesses that are stress related such as obesity, migraine, depression and the like.

If you are feeling down or if you've had a bad day at the office, how about harnessing the power of scent by lighting a candle? If you want to set a romantic mood for you and your partner, start with turning off all the lights and placing scented candles strategically around your room. Here are some popular scents known for their particular benefits. Spicy smells like mint and cinnamon have been known to revitalize a person and a sensual mood is heightened by rich, luscious fragrances like rose and vanilla. Moreover, the scents of lavender, chamomile, and rose are believed to promote relaxation while citrusy smells are said to do wonders for one's concentration.

On a personal note, your fragrance favorites can trigger particular reactions in you. Perhaps you need to take a step back and connect with a memory of someone special - burning a candle that reminds you of them can elicit a powerful response. Or, if the smell of baking bread brings you back to childhood days in your mother's kitchen, perhaps a candle scented like gingerbread can calm and relax you. All these things, and more, revolve around that sense called smell. Smell is an irrevocable part of life. It is imprinted in memory, it is part of our learning experiences, it can even direct moods and emotions. However, we can go through a day without "stopping to smell the roses." Lighting a candle is one small step in appreciating this precious, powerful gift.