Memory & Scent

Certain scents immediately transport me to a time in the past.  When I smell roses, I think of my Mamaw's bathroom.

Mamaw always had a pink bottle of lotion (was it called Rose Milk?) daintily displayed beside the molded soaps on her sink.  I couldn't wait to wash my hands so I had an excuse to slather myself with her rose-scented lotion!

My grandfather wore white work shirts every day to build houses.  When I spent the night at Nana and Papaw's house, I had the privilege of wearing his big t-shirts as pajamas!  Their soft, warm smell made me feel so safe and snug.  Imagine my surprise the day I opened my husband's drawer of work shirts and the scent placed my Papaw back by my side!  Now, I wear my husband's t-shirts to bed, and feel like the princess Papaw told me I am.

Aromas work magic on us, in part because they skip over the verbal side of our brain and head straight for the heart.  A scent can cause tears before you even have the words to describe why you're crying; a scent can cause giggles before you guess why you're laughing.  Scents elicit images and feelings, calling almost forgotten scenes into the present moment.  Aromas awaken imagination.

What scents transport you to happy memories?  Instead of picking up another impulse buy the next time you are shopping, plan to purchase a special item that replicates your happy scent.  You deserve to live, love, remember and imagine freely too!