The Nose Knows
I think it’s pretty common knowledge that scent memory is very powerful. Research shows that while scents and odors don’t conjure memories more effectively than visual or auditory cues, odors tend to be more emotional.
I totally agree.
There are certain Italian restaurants that I love the minute I walk in the door because of the smell. If it smells like my Nana Carolina’s (pronounced Cahr-o-LEE-na) kitchen, that’s a very good thing. My favorite thing about making a big pot of spaghetti sauce on a Sunday is to leave the house and then come home an hour later because my whole house smells like garlic and tomato. Mmmm….
It’s not just food smells that are powerful. I know that for me, the smell of incense at church is powerful, too. I never did like that particular smell, but it certainly transports me back to grade school, where our church and school didn’t have air conditioning and any holiday that called for incense pretty much meant someone was going to pass out.
One of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite romantic comedies was in the Meg Ryan/Kevin Kline movie, FRENCH KISS, when he took her to his childhood bedroom and showed her the project he’d done as a kid about the smells of herbs and flowers in the wine his family produces at their vineyard. She amazed me at how she could take a sniff and identify the scent…but I really loved the sensuality of the scene as she drinks the wine and then tells him what she tastes. The currant! Love that scene. Very powerful and sweet and yet, really sexy. (If you haven’t seen this movie, rent it! It’s really awesome.)
I bring this up because I’m currently writing a heroine (Josie Vargas, who appeared in last year’s Blaze, STRIPPED, which btw, won Romantic Times Magazines Best Blaze of 2007 award) who works with scents. She’s not an aromatherapist (though I did write one of those back in PURE CHANCE) but she does know her herbs and will use them to her advantage. That means I’m doing lots of research as I write about scents and such and it’s hard for me to apply that knowledge sometimes because truth be known, I have a horrible sense of smell.
Back when we lived (briefly) in Georgia, we had a gas stove. I would get home early…around 4pm. My husband would get home at 6pm. He’d immediately walk in and smell the rotten eggs that alerted us to the fact that our pilot light went out…me? I didn’t smell a thing. That was very scary.
So a scent has to be really powerful to be familiar to me, but I love smells. I love my neighbor’s gardenias, which are in bloom right now and smell divine. I love certain perfumes and colognes, though I don’t wear them myself. My old favorite was Must de Cartier. It had a strong vanilla scent, which is irresistible to me. I loved Cinnabar and Opium, for obvious reasons! Spicy and exotic and powerful…not to be worn much in the summer here. These were winter scents.
So it really helps me to go out and buy oils or herbs that I can press my nose right up against in order to experience the smells I’m writing about. I’m heading to a spa-type, new age store tomorrow to do some stocking up. Exotic, erotic smells work best when writing a Blaze!
So, what scents do you love? Not just perfumes or colognes, but the every day smells that bring a smile to your face or a memory to your mind?
What a cool topic! Violets remind me of my Grandma and that old Lilac/violet candy. Immediately transported but it’s not too often, sadly. Tea Rose immediately takes me back to my freshman roommate in college - NOT a good smell for me, LOL!
But my favorite scent is vanilla.
Comment by Carly — April 30, 2008 @ 6:23 am
Oh I adore “French Kiss”, and that scene is amazing. Very intimate and yes, sensual.
Let’s see, I love spring for the intoxicating scents - lilacs in full bloom smell so fresh and beautiful, and freshly cut grass reminds me of growing things. I wear scented lotions instead of perfume - today it’s peach, but I also like vanilla and raspberry (my favorite fruit). Spearmint gum because it’s so clean and refreshing. Night-blooming jasmine. Bath & body used to make this lotion but discontinued it. Luckily I still have 2 more bottles. It reminds me of summer. Just like Coppertone suntan lotion. I love that smell. It brings me to the beach.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 30, 2008 @ 6:33 am
Lavendar is my favorite scent. I hate over powering smells and would love it if someone would outlaw people in public places from wearing strong scents. They tend to make me ill. Literally. I used to work in a office where one of the others always wore a strong perfume. Gag.
I love the smell of cooking when I come into a place. Garlic and onions, tomatoes, turkey and fresh baked goods are my favs. Cookies and pies!! yum
Comment by ev — April 30, 2008 @ 6:36 am
Oh there’s more. I love the smell of coffee too - freshly brewed. And flavored coffee creamers - French vanilla. I don’t like the smell of Starbucks coffee though. I used to be a barista not that long ago, so it’s seeped into me too many times.
Gasoline every once in awhile smells good to me. I think it reminds me of some studly mechanic.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 30, 2008 @ 6:40 am
My little dachshund, Spike is having surgery this morning. The ophthalmologist is removing his right eye. A cataract formed and it grew so fast before we knew it. His eye is swollen and basically dead. I can’t help thinking this is my fault. I should have gotten him into the specialist sooner and ignored our vets advice, then maybe they could have saved his eye. If you have a free moment, please whisper a prayer for my little guy.
As far as smells go, I’d say Spike. They say that dog owners can pick out their dogs from just their smell.
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 30, 2008 @ 8:07 am
Oh, Cher, big hugs. I’m so sorry. Don’t blame yourself. When you take your dog to the vet you expect the correct advice. Dogs are miraculous creatures. He’ll learn to compensate. I’ll be thinking of you. Keep us posted.
Comment by Carly — April 30, 2008 @ 8:28 am
Cher, I’ll keep both you and Spike in my prayers today.
One of my favorite scents is Chanel #5. It was my mom’s favorite perfume. I can’t wear any perfumes because of my allergies, but I love to smell it when I’m in stores.
I also love the smell of spaghetti sauce, pancakes, and pizza. Italian is just about my favorite type of food. My dad always made us home-made pancakes every Sunday before church, plus my mom and dad made the best pizza ever on Friday nights. I also love the smell of a fresh peach, just makes me think of summer.
Comment by Liza — April 30, 2008 @ 8:51 am
Cher - I’m so sorry…sending big hugs and good vibes to you and Spike!
I’ve done a lot of research on the olfactory system because the seizures hubby has are “olfactory seizures” and they always start with him getting a funny smell or taste. I knew certain smells could trigger memories but what I didn’t know was that there are actually people who can have certain memories and then get the smell associated with that memory. I guess that could be good or bad!
I love lavendar/vanilla combinations, the smell when I walk into my favorite restaurant that I used to go to with my dad when I was a little girl, honeysuckle, tuberoses, mock orange - most any spring/summer blooming plants. Cool topic…enjoy you research, I think that would be really fun!
Comment by Jodie — April 30, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Some of my favorite smells include fresh baked breads and cookies, turkey, pizza, and coffee. The weird part of my list is that I do not eat pizza or drink coffee. Growing up I woke up every morning to the smell of coffee. Also, every other Friday night we would go to Pizza Hut. Pizza and coffee are ingrained into my brain forever.
Cher, I hope Spike does well today. I’m sure he will adjust to the loss.
Happy Hump Day!
Comment by Kelly H — April 30, 2008 @ 9:01 am
Hugs to Spike…
Don’t laugh, but when the boys were little, my favorite smell was them (that sounds really bad). I used to be able to tell who was whom, now, I have a permanetly stuffed nose (I think I need that bidet thing that Dr. Oz recommended).
Comment by katie — April 30, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Cher, I’m so sorry you and the little guy are going through this. Don’t blame yourself! You followed the vet’s advice…he’s the one who should be kicking himself. And like others have said, dogs are very resilient. He’ll adjust and with love and affection, won’t even notice after a while.
katie, I know what you mean on kid smells. I don’t think it sounds bad! Anyone with a baby understands!
Kelly, your story reminds me of another smell…doughnuts! Krispy Kreme right off the hot rack. Yes, I love the flavor, too, but the smell is part of my childhood. Dad taking the four of us out for breakfast on Sunday morning so my mom could get a break. Good times!
Stacy~ I love the way your mind works…studly mechanic, indeed!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 30, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Julie, congrats again on your RT win!
And yes, I think scent invokes the strongest sense memories. It triggers memories and emotions before you even realize it. I was in line at the car loop at the elem school several years ago and I’d picked up my mail before I left home. I’m glancing through it in the car, and without my seeing, a “perfume sample” card slipped out of a magazine. And suddenly, tears were running down my face and I had no idea why. Until I realized the card had fallen onto my lap and that the perfume was Opium, which was my mother’s favorite that she wore all the time. I *always* associate it with her.
Very powerful thing.
Comment by Leslie — April 30, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I just dropped Spike off at the Referral Center and this is the first time I had met his doctor. My husband took him in last Friday when I was on my way to the conference last weekend. She is awesome. She showed me pics of other dogs who had had one or more eyes removed. There was even a dachshund with one eye. And there were pics of dogs who had lost both eyes. She said that blind dogs do great. There was a pic of her blind dog swimming in a lake with a ball. :-) I’m confident that he is going to be fine. And she told me it wasn’t my fault. She explained that the cataract grew so fast and engulfed his eye which caused swelling. She assured me I did everything right. He does have a small cataract in the other eye but she doesn’t recommend surgery at this time because there is a risk. As long as there is a good, stable eye they keep an “eye” on it until it needs to be addressed.
This center is the largest of its kind in the country. They have more veterinary specialist under one roof than anywhere else.
Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers. I appreciate it.
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 30, 2008 @ 9:51 am
Cher — I’ve already said a prayer for Spike. Please let us know how the surgery goes and how the little guy does. And big hugs to you!
Comment by Janelle — April 30, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Thanks, Janelle for your prayers and good thoughts. :-)
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 30, 2008 @ 11:28 am
Healing thoughts are being sent to you and the puppy dog, Cher.
My favorite smells are HONEYSUCKLE (it grows wild on our land in Arkansas and transports me to happy childhood memories) and indescribable smell of my Meme’s room. One of the saddest days was when I walked in here room and the last trace of it had faded away.
Comment by Cas — April 30, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I love the smell of cinnamon when my mother bakes her pumpkin pie!!! Yummy!!! Best Wishes Spike!!!
Comment by Colleen — April 30, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Oh Cher big hugs
As for smells I love the smell of fresh baked brownies, a summer breeze especially after it rains, clean towels, and newborn babies.
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 30, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
I love the smell of grass, flowers, fresh laundry, dry sheets, baby powder and scotch tape.
Comment by Jane — April 30, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
Ha, Cinnabar! I worked for Estee Lauder for years, I love that perfume but my favorite is Youth Dew. It’s also spicy like Cinnabar and Opium. Old Spice reminds me of my first boyfriend. The smell of grape Bubble Yum reminds me of my first real kiss (he had been chewing it). Shalimar reminds me of my mom because that’s all she wears. I live in southern CA so we don’t have dramatic season changes but I can always tell when fall is coming because the air smells different all of a sudden.
Comment by Beth — April 30, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Cher, you and Spike are in my prayers. I hope everything goes well with his operation.
As for smells, I can’t handle anything that’s strong. Yesterday I ended up with a headache after walking along a sidewalk that had some type of tree with blooming flowers, not sure what it was. To me, the smell was a completely overpowering sickly sweet smell that had my eyes watering until I reached my car and then left me with a headache.
My favorite scents are peppermint/spearmint, citrus, the smell of baking bread/pie, baby powder, and rain. I still like grass, but tend to avoid it now because of my allergy to all forms of the stuff.
Katie, I still love inhaling the scent of my nieces and nephews when I see them. There’s just something about the way little kids smell.
And, Stacy, I have to agree with your comment about gasoline smelling good on occasion, for the same reason.
Comment by Karin — April 30, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
Cher, good luck to Spike with his surgery. I’m sure he will be fine. It sounds like he is getting the best possible care. My brother & his wife had a dog that had to have an eye removed & Duchess was just fine after that. She did have a blind spot on that side but other than that you would never know. Dogs are special little creatures.
Julie what an interesting subject for today. Smells to evoke memories. The smell of a baby is like nothing else, so wonderful. I love the smell of fresh air, the ocean, clean laundry, lavendar, roses, freshly baked cookies or bread. Freshly brewed coffee or just ground coffee beans smell better than coffee tastes!! Italian food always smells yummy but so do lots of other food scents to numerous to name. I do love wearing perfume. The scents I’m drawn to are usually fresh, spicy, not heavy or sensual. I do hate being around a woman or man that has doused themselves in perfume/cologne so that you are overwhelemed with the scent–yuck! I prefer it to be subtle & tantalizing. All of this has been said without watching the video. I’ll go do that now!
Comment by Donna M — April 30, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
Pop Corn, Blue Berry Bagels, Coffee, Babies, Citrus. Sweet Almond Massage Oil. Sea Salt on My husband when he has been at the beach (yum yum)….
Comment by Christine D. — April 30, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Good wishes winging out to Spike and to you, Cher!
Favorite scents; Vanilla, rose, plumeria, honeysuckle, fresh baking, and all babies! Old Spice,
which Honey was wearing when we met forty-nine years ago!
BTW, I’m one of those folks with a “funny” nose! It isn’t always memories that brings on
what I call my “olfactory trips.” I can be watching a Nascar race, for example, and find
myself surrounded by the odor or gasoline or motor shop smells. It can be rather startling!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 30, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
Hi Julie,
I think vanilla might be one of my favorite scents. I really like fresh clean scents - and fruit. Fresh pineapple, peaches, strawberries… mmm. I love Be Delicious by Donna Karen. [Apple.] I also like jasmine - my mom has a fabulous plant, but the scent is so strong, it can get overpowering.
I also loooove food smells. So many comforting memories - and delicious things to eat!
Comment by limecello — April 30, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
My favorite scent is baby drool. Since my kids are older, when they firsst wake up I can still smell that same scent on their faces.
Call me a dork, but I am transported back in time most mornings.!
Comment by Debbie — April 30, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Garlic bread in the oven and the “gravy” (Gran calls it gravy) with the garlic, basil, oregeno simmering on the stove.I can smell it outside when it’s cooking! God this is making me hungry!
Comment by Tina — April 30, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
I love the smell of lilacs and hyacinths in the spring. The smell of freshly brewed coffee anytime!
Comment by Estella — April 30, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Cher
thinking of you and Spike.
Julie what a great topic.
I like when I burn my Yankee candle tarts so may I like that it is hard
Macintosh in the Fall, Christmas cookie in around Christmas time and for the summer there is so many but one of them is Cherry Lemonade
Comment by Cherylann — April 30, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Big hugs and prayers to you and Spike, Cher.
Gardenia is one of my most loved scents. That and the scent of a spring rain - especially if I get to sleep in.
Comment by Cara — April 30, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
It is funny you bring this topic up today. I was getting ready this morning and pulled out a bottle of lotion I had under the sink hadn’t used it for a while Memoery Romance from bath and body works and as I rubbed it in I have always liked the smell but today I rember it reminded me of something my grandma use to wear when we would go stay the summer with them. Hair products and the smell of the salon takes me back to my time in beauty school.
Comment by Michele — April 30, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
I agree, scents are attached to memories–juniper breeze lotion by Bath and Body brings back some great
memories!!! Escape men’s colonge….chocolate chip cookies…hazelnut candles, coffee, and two of my favorite’s…Cold cats in the winter..if you have a cat you know what I mean and a new box of crayons..
Comment by Renee B — May 1, 2008 @ 12:47 am
What a great day of memories! I’m off to do more research today…thankfully, I don’t have a cold!
Comment by Julie Leto — May 1, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Italian food, baked goods or a bakery - lily of the valley, lilac, honeysuckle.
Comment by Pat L. — May 1, 2008 @ 11:25 pm