The Power of Scent in Evoking Memories
The Power of Scent in Evoking Memories
Scent holds a profound connection to memory, evoking emotions and transporting us back to specific moments in a manner unparalleled by any other sense.
Memory is the function of the brain that encodes, stores, and retrieves information. Whether you know it or not, you owe everything you do in your life to memory—it enables you to speak, walk, develop relationships, and more.
Most people have experienced first-hand how scents can trigger strong emotions and memories.
It is the reason we cling to diseased loved ones clothes. It is why we smell baked cookies, and we are immediately brought back to our grandma’s house as a child. Or smell fresh cut grass and think of our dad or a summer memory. Recently, I opened up my son’s crayon box and I immediately thought of my first-grade best friend sitting at a table next to me.
“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived. The odors of fruits waft me to my southern home, to my childhood frolics in the peach orchard. Other odors, instantaneous and fleeting, cause my heart to dilate joyously or contract with remembered grief.”
-Helen Keller
The science of smell
Smell is by far the most powerful and primitive of all of the senses. The sense of smell is one of the first to develop in utero. A baby's nose starts to form early in the 1st trimester. The baby’s nasal cavity is fully formed and the chemoreceptors for smelling are ready as early as 9 weeks gestation. They are fully connected to the brain at 13 weeks gestation. At birth, smell is the most advanced sense. Newborn orient themselves by smell more than any other sense and when placed on a mother's belly after birth, they will work their way up to the breast navigating by sense of smell alone. (1)
What's interesting about our olfactory system is how it is anatomically structured with the brain.
Dr. Rachel Herz, Psychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist states that “Our primitive ofactory cortex was the first fabric of our brain and from this neural tissue grew the amydala where emotions are processed...in other words our ability to experience and express emotion grew direct out of our brain's ability to process smells.” (2)
The olfactory system, responsible for our sense of smell, has a direct link to the brain's limbic system. The limbic system is the seat of our emotions and plays a crucial role in memory formation and retrieval. This direct connection between scent and the limbic system explains why a single whiff of a familiar scent can instantaneously trigger a flood of memories.
The olfactory system and its link to memory
The olfactory system is a complex network that allows us to detect and identify different scents. When we inhale a scent, sensory receptors in our nose capture the molecules that make up the scent. These receptors send signals to the olfactory bulb, located at the base of the brain, where the scent is processed and analyzed.
From the olfactory bulb, the scent information is then relayed to the limbic system, specifically the amygdala and hippocampus. The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, while the hippocampus plays a key role in memory formation. This direct connection between scent and the limbic system is the reason why scents have such a profound impact on our emotions and memories.
Triggering memories and emotions
When we encounter a scent that is familiar, the information about that scent is matched against our stored memories. If the scent matches a memory, the limbic system is activated, and a cascade of emotions and memories is triggered.
For example, the aroma of freshly baked cookies may transport us back to our grandmother's kitchen, where we spent many joyful moments. The scent of the cookies acts as a trigger, bringing forth not only the memory of the kitchen but also the emotions associated with those moments.
Similarly, the subtle scent of a loved one's perfume can bring back tender moments shared together. The scent acts as a bridge, connecting the present moment to the cherished memories of the past. It can evoke feelings of love, comfort, and nostalgia, creating a sensory experience that goes beyond the physical presence of the person.
How is this different than other senses?
When we touch, taste, hear or see something it first goes to the thalamus which processes it and sends it to the cerebral cortex for interpretation. Our sense of smell goes straight to amygdala and hippocampus which could play a huge role in whey smells trigger emotions and vivid emotional memories. This could also be a reason why our sense of smell triggers more emotional vivid memories than any other sense.
How can we use scent to help us form memories?
Knowing this direct connection between scent and memory, we can use essential oils to form memory scent associations to help retain memories during these special occasions. To do this, save a new blend you haven’t used before during that event. A few years ago, my family and I traveled to Hawaii together and I brought my diffuser. While we were there, I diffused a new blend I hadn’t previously used with Hawaiian Sandalwood and Lime essential oils. Whenever, I diffuse this blend now, we often think about our time on the big island together.
Other examples of this:
Diffuse or use a new essential oil during labor or shortly after childbirth.
Make a new perfume or cologne blend to use on your wedding day.
Traveling? Use a new blend to remember your trip.
Special events or celebrations such as a wedding, family get together, job promotion? Inhale a new blend to embrace that moment.
Odor conditioning
We can also use essential oils to benefit our emotional wellbeing through something called odor conditioning.
Odor conditioning is a psychological process that involves the association of specific odors with certain emotional or behavioral responses. It is based on the principles of classical conditioning, whereby a neutral stimulus (odor) becomes associated with a biologically significant event, leading to a conditioned response. Through repeated pairings of the odor with a positive or negative experience, individuals can develop learned associations with specific smells. For example, the smell of freshly baked cookies may evoke feelings of comfort and joy, while the scent of a gym locker room may elicit feelings of disgust. We can develop these associations utilizing essential oils. For example, if we use calming essential oils such as lavender, roman chamomile or vetiver at bedtime, our brain will begin to associate those aromas as a precursor to sleep, allowing us to fall asleep faster.
We can also use these calming essential oils in conjunction with other relaxing self-care practices such as massage, bubble baths, meditation and yoga. Later on, we can smell these essential oils in the middle of a busy stressful day, and immediately feel grounded and calm. We can even use essential oils in this manner for children or teenagers nervous about starting school by adding a drop to their diffuser bead bracelet or necklace to smell throughout the day.
Using memory scent connections postpartum
Another great way to use essential oils in this manner is for infants struggling with separation anxiety. If a mother diffuses, rolls on, or adds a drop of essential oil to her shirt, the infant will begin to associate that aroma with her. If car rides are stressful for the infant, or being with another caregiver is difficult, use that same essential oil and apply to a lovey or blanket. The infant will have already associated this blend with their mother, and it will evoke feelings of being cared for, soothed, safe and secure.
If a mother is separated from their infant, the smell of this blend can also encourage milk let down. Milk letdown can be triggered by emotions. When we smell an essential oil blend that we have a memory scent association with our children, it can trigger the release of oxytocin which is important for bonding, connection, and love. This can also encourage milk let down.
Can essential oils support memory?
Essential oils have shown potential in supporting memory function. Certain essential oils, such as rosemary and peppermint, are known for their stimulating properties that may enhance cognitive performance. Research suggests that inhaling the scent of rosemary oil can improve memory and alertness, while peppermint oil may contribute to increased attention and mental clarity. Additionally, essential oils like lavender and frankincense have been linked to reducing stress and anxiety, which can often hinder memory consolidation. While more studies are needed to fully understand the effects of essential oils on memory, incorporating these natural remedies into daily routines may offer a supportive boost to cognitive functions.
"There's rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you love, remember.”
-Declared by Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet
Some of the best essential oils to reduce brain fog and increase mental clarity and memory:
Rosemary had a long history of enhancing memory. Grecian scholars would wear rosemary on their heads to improve their recall while taking exams. Research has shown that rosemary has a significant positive effect on the ability to remember things and improve reaction times. (3)
Basil is stimulating and may increase alertness and improve memory by dissipating fatigue related distraction.
Peppermint is a great focus boosting essential oil and may help increase quality of memory. It also has a cooling somatosensory effect which can re-energize a fatigued mind/body while promoting clarity.
Vetiver is helpful for relieving stress and clearing a busy mind. It’s heavy, smokey, earthy aroma can be grounding while also promoting focus.
Spearmint is similar to peppermint in helping re-energize a tired mind and body therefore restoring concentration.
Frankincense is a soothing calming oil that can facilitate deeper awareness which can help promote memory retention.
Other helpful essential oils: Ylang Ylang, Fir, Pine, Helichrysum, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Lemon, Cardamom, Cypress, Sweet Orange, Eucalyptus
My personal favorite ways to use aromatherapy to stimulate my brain is to diffuse, use an aromatherapy inhaler or add a few drops to the shower floor while showering. To read more about utilizing aromatherapy for this purpose, check out my blog post “The Best Tips for Focus, Concentration and Productivity”
New Research: Essential oils may improve cognitive performance and memory
A new placebo-controlled study was just published July 24th in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience. (4)
This study was done of 46 volunteers, aged between 60-85 years old. Individuals in the enriched group were exposed to 7 different odorants a week, one per night, for 2 hours, using an essential oil diffuser for 6 months. Essential oils used were: rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. Individuals in the control group had the same experience with bottles of distilled water and no essential oils. The results were compelling.
Using a standard memory test, the volunteers in the active group showed a 226 percent increase in cognitive performance compared to adults that slept with no specific smells overnight!
In addition, MRI neuroimaging showed that the aromatherapy exposed volunteers had better integrity in the brain pathway known as the left uncinate fasciculus, which connects the memory centre to the decision-making prefrontal cortex.
I often think about how our smell is one of the first senses affected by many types of dementia including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Knowing the connection between scent and its influence on memory and cognition, aromatherapy may be a cost-effective non-invasive way to combat cognitive decline and dementia. A scent can not only bring back memories but may play a role in reducing cognitive decline.
Want to learn more about using essential oils? Check out my latest book Science of Essentials: The Essential Guide for Using Aromatherapy to Promote Health and Healing here.
Looking for more education on using essential oils for emotional health? See my blog article, The Best Essential Oils for Stress and Anxiety and 5 Tips for Using Aromatherapy for Stress Relief.
Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user's own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.
References:
Varendi H, Porter RH, Winberg J. Does the newborn baby find the nipple by smell? Lancet. 1994 Oct 8;344(8928):989-90. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91645-4.
Herz, Rachel. The Scent of Desire. (2007). Harper Collins Publishers: New York.
Moss M, Oliver L. Plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2012 Jun;2(3):103-13.
Woo CC, Miranda B, Sathishkumar M, Dehkordi-Vakil F, Yassa MA, Leon M. Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory and modifies the uncinate fasciculus in older adults. Front Neurosci. 2023 Jul 24;17:1200448.