Have you heard about the olfactory bulb? It is a part in the front area of our brain which is responsible for how we process smells. Smells are directly sent to the amygdala region of the brain in charge for processing emotional experiences and the hippocampus region of the brain in control for associative learning.
When you look at our other senses, like sight and touch, none of them quite as strong of a link to these specific areas of the brain.
Studies have demonstrated that memories triggered by odours evoke more of an emotional response than memories provoked by other stimuli such as sight or sound.
But it is not a surprise why scent is such a strong sense. Well, it might have something to do with the fact that we develop our sense of smell in the womb and it’s one of our strongest senses in childhood. It is our strongest sense when we are creating the foundational memories that will determine our viewpoint on life.
But unfortunately, it can also sabotage our health lifestyle goals. For example, there are many people who struggle to eliminate certain “comfort” foods and smells from their diet, even if those foods are triggering chronic health issues.
But also, there is the good news about the power of scent, because there are three key ways to use scent to our advantage!
- Smells can reduce stress
If you have any scents that instantly evoke positive memories you should keep them close! Maybe tomatoes remind you of summers cooking with your mom, or the smell of fresh cut grass in the summer instantly reminds you of the seemingly never-ending summer days you spent in the backyard as a kid. Whatever scent it may be, you can always access that smell and the positive feelings that come with it!
- Scent can decrease cravings
Certain smells, like those associated with your favourite foods, can trigger intense cravings, but interestingly enough, certain scents can also limit cravings. For example, studies have shown that specific essential oils, like grapefruit in particular, can reduce cravings for food.
- Scent can be used against inflammation
According to some studies certain smells which were connected with positive memories were linked to reduced inflammation. For example, one study compared levels of TNF-a an inflammatory protein after smelling a scent associated with a good memory and after smelling a neutral scent. Results have shown that the levels of TNF-a were significantly lower after being exposed to the emotional-associated scent.
So, next time you sense a nostalgic scent, you may try to use one of its healing stress-reducing, craving-crushing, and anti-inflammatory properties!