Remembering a memory by scent

[jnamnco]

does anyone have a scent they have that brings back a memory?



what would you think instead of looking a photograph, there's a scent to it that would bring back that memory?

 

[Christie Photo]

...what would you think instead of looking a photograph,...

ummm... let me see... a photograph that's not viewed? Hmmm....

Isn't that called a piece of paper?

-Pete

 

[jnamnco]

i meant,
what kind of scents would you think of that would bring back a memory

 

[starcluster]

you mean a photo that brings out memories, like when you smell something that brings out some memory!?

 

[den9]

the smell of spring

or burning leaves in the fall

perfume of an ex gf

or the smell of race fuel burning at a drag strip

the musty smell of a photo store

etc etc

 

[NDAC]

The perfume my first gf used, I don't know what it's called but it sure brings out a lot of memories.

 

[Garbz]

Perfume is the classic one. The problem is scents fade VERY quickly. Perfume goes off, and in general it's not something that can be stored for very long.

 

[Josh66]

i meant,
what kind of scents would you think of that would bring back a memory

Depends on the memory...

Different smells would bring different memories...

 

[Derrel]

Memories and smells have been linked VERY, very strongly, in numerous studies. Memories of scents and aromas last basically, almost a lifetime. A little bit of internet searching will turn up some studies correlating smell and memories.

Discovery Health "Smell and Memory"

Also....Can Photographs Bring Back Remember The Smell of a Memory | Get a Digital SLR Camera

One study I recall from college was a group of people who were shown photos of people they did not know, and given scent samples paired with the presentation of the mugshot photos....after a year, the association between faces of "nameless, unfamiliar" people and their original scent pairing was fairly high...

 

[Flash Harry]

bacon, brings breakfast immediately to mind. By the way is this still the photo forum. H

 

[Elias]

Food mainly for me.

I used to live in Italy when I was younger and me and my family would regularly cook chestnuts on an open fire. That smell always brings back memories for me.

Edit: I'm pretty sure if someone showed me a photograph of chestnuts being cooked on an open fire I would be reminded of that scent in an instant.