KHUSHBOO AUR YAADEIN
The fragrance of Ponds cream evokes childhood memories, and I visualise my mom applying it on my face in winter, a comforting blanket of mother’s love. The stress of the day just withers away, and there is a sense of calm. Smells echo comfort, safety bringing a sense of security and solace into one’s life. Miti ki Khushboo after the first rain in summer can bring a smile to any stressed person. Smell and memory have a link with the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain. It is hard-wired to memory, and nothing can bring back a memory like the familiar fragrance as the strong sense of smell is associated with well-being.
The anatomy of the brain, allows olfactory signals to get to the limbic system very quickly so that is why smell and memory are closely linked. The Proust effect studies the exceptional ability of scents to trigger memories and how close is the olfactory processing system to memory in the brain. The nostalgic fragrant memories knock on the door of childhood memories. Fragrances of our childhood are our anchor of happiness when the going gets tough in life. The sweet aroma of kheer produces a déjà vu of my grandmother’s kitchen, and I lose myself in her memories.
The smell of the crackers burning can take you back to carefree childhood days while bringing the fervour of festival time of Diwali. Whenever I bake a cake, the atmosphere brings back the laughter of my friends from my youth. You go on a time travel with the nostalgia of fragrances. The aromatic carpet of pristine white Har Singar takes me back to where I discovered them first and fell in love with those flowers and I relive the joy of those days.
While older people may find joy in the fragrance of pine or freshly baked bread, the millennials may find a connection with the whiff of freshly brewed coffee. Our growing up years and the atmosphere affects which fragrances bring nostalgia unique to each of us. The smell of fresh-cut grass or old books will bring in nostalgic memories for people who like reading books or love being in nature.
The aroma of food is the smell of home triggering a sense of comfort in anyone. The smell of chalk or the crayon takes us to a happy-go -lucky time in the classrooms, while the salty smell of the sea takes one to the seaside trips and how freshly sun-dried linen is so refreshing. One of the happiest scents for anyone is the fragrance of a baby.
Pleasant memories can improve mood and reduce stress which is good for our mental health. It fosters greater confidence and enhances creativity. An early detection of Alzheimer’s disease through the diminishing sense of smell can help to start the treatment earlier. An olfactory recall is incredible, as small airborne molecules are so powerful to impact our feelings and spark a flood of reminiscences.
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