The Relationship Between Scent and Memory

A certain scent can vividly bring back memories.

This phenomenon is apparently called the "Proust effect."

It's said to be named after a passage in the French writer Marcel Proust's novel "In Search of Lost Time," where a scent triggers a vivid memory.

 

I'm sure everyone has experienced a memory flashing back when they catch a scent.

 

The scent of my grandmother's house, my ex-lover's perfume, the delicious aroma of my mother's home cooking – I believe there's a close connection between various scents and memories. While medically proven, scent is said to be the only sense that reaches the brain directly.

 

〇 Scents caught through the nose are first processed in the olfactory bulb (kyukyu), which runs along the base of the brain from inside the nose, and are directly connected to the "hippocampus" and "amygdala" – regions of the brain involved in emotion and memory. (The Japanese characters for amygdala are the same as for tonsils because of their similar shape.)

Photo: A craftsman weaving in the Marrakech souk.

Along with the scent of the worn fabric, I remember the sweet taste of the mint tea I was treated to.

 

Arriving in Marrakech by train.

For me, the scent of Morocco is an impression of spices, fruits, and dry earth mixed together.

When you want to firmly engrave your precious memories in your brain, it might be interesting to start with a new scent.

"That's how it was then," "What was delicious," "Who I met for the first time"... and talked to.

This is because the scent experienced with a memory is etched into the brain (memory) as an image.

Due to the global virus, we're spending more time at home these days.

While immediate travel might not be possible, taking a deep breath, enjoying your favorite scent, and creating some relaxed time for yourself can be a form of relaxation.

Enveloping yourself in a scent and taking deep breaths can revitalize your body,

And a little effort or a bit of self-care can freshen your body and mind daily, improving your mental state.

Food for the soul, Moroccan food lovingly prepared. The bread is also homemade.

 

dabab's products are bottled not only for their benefits like nourishing and moisturizing the skin,

but also so that you can experience the natural scent and warmth of the plants on your skin.

 

 "Cosmetics you can feel"

These were the words a wonderful beauty writer exclaimed when she used Moroccan Cactus Oil.

If you're feeling stressed or cloudy these days, it might be a good idea to create a few minutes to talk to yourself.

 

Citrus Smooth Oil, created with a female Moroccan botanist.

Highly recommended for those who love citrus scents.

(Suddenly a product appears...)

For those who are working hard every day, using their brains to the fullest, to ease tension and soothe. (Atlas Cedar & Verbena are wonderfully effective!)

 

Refreshing and relaxing, entering the heart effortlessly. You are the one who can best care for your own body.

 

Take this opportunity to create time to free your mind.

Natural scents stimulate instinct and are an easy way to relax.

For those looking to prevent dementia, or who feel they've become a bit forgetful recently, please try utilizing "natural scents" that your body instinctively picks up on.