Did you know that our sense of smell is the strongest of all five senses, and that your nose can actually affect how you feel and what you remember?
The olfactory nerve is responsible for our sense of smell (and taste too), and it is directly linked to the part of the brain that monitors memories and emotions. Studies have shown that we are 100 times more likely to remember something we smell compared to something we see or hear or touch.
For example, the smell of chicken soup may instantly conjure up recollections of grandma, or the scent of sea breeze may remind you of the beach picnics you had when you were a child. Scents can act as a trigger in helping you recall an otherwise forgotten event or experience.
Not only do they affect our memory, but scents also evoke emotions. In fact, research shows that as much as 75% of all emotions generated are due to smell.
Perfumers use this to their advantage, developing fragrances that convey a range of emotions and feelings, including desire and power. The spa and wellness industry, too, is known for using the power of smell to help customers relax.
Some other interesting facts about our powerful sense of smell
We can detect a trillion scents
We humans have five to six million odour-detecting cells, which may not seem to be as fascinating when you compare it to dogs that have 220 million cells. But, researchers have said that our humble nose can smell at least one trillion distinct scents, and that’s pretty impressive!
Humans can smell fear and disgust
An interesting US study suggested that we can actually smell feelings of fear and disgust through sweat. Not only that, but you can in turn experience the same emotions after smelling them. This means, if you sensed that someone is anxious through the smell of their odour, you may become stressed yourself.
Women have a better sense of smell
Women are believed to be better at odour and smell identification compared to men. Scientists say this may be because women have a more developed orbital prefrontal region of the brain. It may also have evolved from an ability to smell out the best possible mates, or to help women bond with and understand newborn babies better.
We each have our own unique odour
Every person has their own distinct body odour, just as how we have unique fingerprints. This genetically determined body odour, called odortypes, help distinguish us from one another. Although certain food, such as garlic, may influence your body odour to a certain extent, the odortype itself will remain unchanged.
Scents that most people love
Smells are largely a subjective matter. The scent I find pleasurable may be repulsive to you, and vice versa. However, there are some smells that are universally enjoyed, and they include:
- Freshly-baked bread or cookies
- Sea breeze
- Fresh flowers
- Rain
- Newly-mown grass
- Coffee
- Vanilla
- Citrus
Inspired by these scents, here are some fragrance you should use in your home:
An indulgent fragrance influenced by the velvety, full-bodied Pacific vanilla bean, folded with creamy tones of butterscotch.
Experience the seaside with the relaxing scents of salty ocean breezes with an undertone of soft cotton and light woods.
Napali Chic Reed Diffuser – Fresh Roses & Peonies
Enjoy a floral journey through a field of red roses and peonies, accompanied by a mist of bergamot and jasmine.
Be comforted by this renewing fragrance reminiscent of scents found just after a spring shower.
Elume Reed Diffusers – Beach Grass & Lilac
Imagine an early morning walk in the garden with the fragrance of dewy greens laden with blossoming lily of the valley and fresh lilac.
Peppermint Grove – Lemon, Basil & Mandarin
Let the refreshing fragrance of lemon, lime, orange and mandarin flow through your home and keep you rejuvenated.
Looking for more fragrance? Candle Gifts offer a wide range of fragrance in the form of scented candles, soy wax melts, reed diffusers, hand and body lotions, and more. Shop online today!
