Think back to one of the BIG moments in your life. What details do you remember? Maybe you can recall exactly what you were wearing, what was on TV, where you went to dinner that night. Maybe you remember a chill in the air or the broiling summer heat. How did you feel? What did you say?
Does a particular fragrance come to mind?
“When you first smell a new scent, you link it to an event, a person, a thing or even a moment. Your brain forges a link between the smell and a memory — associating the smell of chlorine with summers at the pool or lilies with a funeral. When you encounter the smell again, the link is already there, ready to elicit a memory or a mood.” (Sarah Dowdey, Smell and Memory, HowStuffWorks.com)
At Scentsy, we call them scent memories — the emotion and memory that comes rushing back when you smell a familiar fragrance. Sometimes expected, but more often a total surprise, scent memories have the power to take us back in time with even the subtlest trace of fragrance.
Think about it: Has a certain smell ever stopped you in your tracks? (No, we’re not talking about those unpleasant odors — though they bring back memories, too.)
It’s when you walk outside and the lilac is in bloom: Your mind travels back to that first spring you spent in your brand-new home, where each budding flower in the garden was a surprise. (The previous owner planted them, after all.)
Or when you hold a friend’s newborn baby for the first time and take a big, healthy whiff of that new-baby smell. (Then instantly start crying because your kid is now big and remember when she was that small?)
Fragrance is powerful! It makes us feel. It helps us remember. It takes our breath away. Many Scentsy fragrances are actually inspired by real-life memories. Our perfumers often try to recapture the bliss of a vacation or the sweetness of childhood as they design a new scent — in the hopes that it will bring back familiar feelings and memories for you, too.
Here are a few lovely scent memories from the Scentsy home office team, inspired by new Spring/Summer 2017 Scentsy fragrances: Atlantic Air
“Atlantic Air reminds me of the years I spent living near the beach. Every night, I’d leave the window open to listen to the waves and let the salty air in — it was absolutely the best feeling.” — Dalia G. Forest Wildflowers
“One of the best things about hiking is taking in the beauty and fragrance of the wildflowers. When I warm Forest Wildflowers, I feel like I’m back in one of my favorite national parks — Yellowstone or Yosemite — taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.” — Brenda B. Lemon Sorbet
“My grandparents lived in Chicago. Whenever we’d visit, we’d go to this little Italian beef stand called Johnnie’s Beef. They had the most AMAZING handmade Italian ice. It had little chunks of lemon peel in it. It was so refreshing! That’s what this fragrance reminds me of.” — Megan H. Lemon Thyme Berry
“As a child, one of my favorite and most prized possessions was a set of scented markers. They smelled marvelous, they colored beautifully, AND I was the only kid in the class who had them. Lemon Thyme Berry smells just like the red and purple works of art I would create with my markers.” — Rocio M. Sweet Amber & Freesia
“Each spring here in Idaho, the air is filled with this sweet and clean fragrance that has the lightest hint of something spicy. It’s not one identifiable scent, rather it’s the loveliest combination of many things all blooming at the same time. It always reminds me of my high school graduation. It’s the freshness of possibilities and the beginning of summer. I love it!” — Amanda H.
That’s the power of Scentsy fragrance!
Posted in Fragrance 101, Science of Scent from on the Scentsy Blog
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