Creating memory through scent
I posted on instagram recently about a fantastic beach walk I had this summer. It was just meant to be a few lovely photos of the beach but when I started writing about it, the words came out as much more than expected. The experience and subsequent recollection of the walk really highlighted to me the power of scent and how it can not only have an affect on mood, but influence our memories. I thought I would share it here.
Waking down to the beach yesterday, through a pine forest. It was hot, and the forest floor was a combination of sand, crunchy pine cones and pine needles. The scent coming up through the heat was overwhelming: fresh Scot’s Pine and salty sea air. I was in the shade of the forest and could hear the lapping waves of the sea in front of me, and above was a perfect, deep blue sky.
ALL THE SENSES
I closed my eyes, breathed in, fully aware of all the sensory experiences hitting my brain. The sound of the sea and the crunch underfoot, the smell of the pine forest, the taste of the sea air, the feel of the heat on my skin, thankful for the cool shade under the trees after a long slog uphill, the anticipation of reaching the warm sand on the beach, taking my shoes off and walking down to the turquoise blue sea.
OLFACTORY MEMORY
The scent of pine was so captivating and reminded me of our Forest candle. So now, when I light this particular candle in the future, this quiet moment, and these sensory experiences, will take me back to this time and the feelings of peace and happiness.
Creating memory through scent. The power of olfactory memory. The Proust effect. I love it.
Thanks for reading, TBC x
