I used to visit my grandmother’s house often. There was a certain smell to her house that was different from my own. I later learned the smell was associated with the soap she used. She passed a few years ago, but every time I smell that particular soap it brings back happy, comforting memories. According to Scientific American, “Your olfactory bulb runs from your nose to the base of your brain and has direct connections to your amygdala (the area of the brain responsible for processing emotion) and your hippocampus (an area linked to memory and cognition). Neuroscientists have suggested that this close physical connection between the regions of the brain linked to memory, emotion, and our sense of smell may explain why our brain learns to associate smells with certain emotional memories.”
So, what scents make you think of summer? It could be vastly different for someone in one culture or region versus someone in a different culture or region. For example, the smell of lemon triggers thoughts of drinking lemonade in the summer. This is why we have the Wild Lemon Summer Collection. The smell of bonfire makes me think of late summer nights or camping in the woods. For some, the scent of ocean or fish triggers memories of summer. Here in Minnesota, the smell of bug spray is a common summer memory, as well as sunscreen scent.
When you find a scent you like, it’s enjoyable to sit and let it bring back the good memories. However, sometimes smells aren’t as positive, or pleasant. For example, I don’t like the smell of my husband smoking meat on the grill. Chlorine isn’t a very wonderful scent either.
When that happens I go and take a warm shower with my bar soap. Our bar soap is well known for eliminating smells. My husband uses our bar soap after a bonfire or a swim in the lake. It helps neutralize the odor.
So when you come across a scent that doesn’t bring back positive memories, go take a bath or shower! Those summer scents though? Sit with them, enjoy them.