Has the aroma of the raindrops touching the earth in the monsoon triggered a memory of you floating paper boats, made by tearing the last scribbled page of your school notebook, in that muddy puddle outside the school premises? Or does the aroma of that Cold Coffee, near the crossroads of your friend’s home take you back to the memories of your first date during your college days in the late 1990s?
Well, if we start talking about the list of memories an individual can relate to with the Sense of Smell, then this can be an endless discussion!
To understand how this works, let’s begin...
The upper part of the nose has olfactory neurons that generate impulses upon detecting a smell and transmit them to the brain along the olfactory nerve. This then arrives at the olfactory bulb area of the brain and is then transmitted to
other areas connected to it, which is known as the limbic system (also known as the emotional brain). The structures in the limbic system are responsible for the impact on mood, behavior as well as emotions. Compared to other senses, the information from the olfactory sense gets registered in the unconscious or subconscious mind. This is one of the main reasons why memory is closely connected with the sense of smell, probably more so than the other four senses.
Surprisingly, Japan has developed a science revolving around the ‘sense of smell’. Here, special scents are used to boost the productivity and energy levels of the employees. During the mornings, the scents of lemon and citrus fruits alike boost energy and creativity. Whereas, in the afternoon, scents of jasmine and cinnamon are diffused to enhance the concentration of the employees.
The Sense of Smell and the Perfume Industry
Fragrances have had a legacy since the Bronze Age, when they were used more as a symbol of social status. Now, you will be surprised to know that this is one of the prime concepts on which the Perfume industry works! Perfumes are a pathway to getting nostalgic. No wonder why the companies in this segment spend billions of dollars on the much underrated concept of ‘sense of smell’. The fragrances are made to evoke a vast range of emotions, be it desire, relaxation, happiness or power. The cosmetic, beauty or perfume industry uses this knowledge or as we call it, the ‘sense of smell’ while manufacturing their products.
Make sure to read this blog before you buy your next perfume. Meanwhile, do have a look at the best fragrances for men and best fragrances for women at yominternational.com.
Let us know in the comments what your favorite scent has been to date!