From Candles to Perfumes: The Science of Aroma and Memory
Did the whiff of a sandalwood candle transport you back to your grandma’s cosy home where you spent the summer holidays? Well, you have just had a Proustian moment - when a scent conjured up a memory of an experience gone by. It is a well-known fact that fragrances can evoke memories of a certain time and space. And there’s science behind the fact that the nose knows!
The Link Between Fragrance, Brain, Emotions, And Memories
After years of research, neuroscience has established a strong connection between smell and memory. Most of the time, these odour-linked memories are happy and bring on a good mood. To understand how fragrance is able to do this, we need a quick look into the way our brain functions.
When we partake sensory information like seeing, touching, or smelling, it is transferred to the thalamus and from there to the hippocampus and amygdala which are responsible for memory and emotional processing respectively.
But it is different with smells. Scents circumvent the thalamus and go straight to the olfactory bulb which is directly connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. This is probably because smell is one of the most rudimentary senses that some scientists feel has been around before the other senses.
The Business of Fragrances
Businesses have long learned to harness the power of aromatic smell to attract and retain customers. Scent branding is a popular tool employed by companies in order to make their brand stand out.
For example, British Airways uses a unique scent in their terminal diffusers and bathroom soaps as a marketing strategy. And your favourite Starbucks requires every store to grind their coffee beans to release a strong coffee aroma into the air that’s reminiscent of the time you spent relaxing at a Starbucks outlet.
Think of how entering a particular brand outlet takes you back to your younger days of shopping because the scent they emanate has remained consistent over the years!
Introducing Fragrance Into Homes
Since one spends most of their time at home it is only befitting that it be an inviting, warm, and relaxing space that caters to your distinct personality. And fragrances are a way of achieving this aromatic smell effect.
Luxury scented candles, incense sticks, diffusers, etc., are a few ways in which you can make your home smell pleasant. Good smelling candles can be very effective in infusing lovely aromas as well as setting the mood for the evening. There is a reason candlelight dinners are said to be romantic!
How To Select Scented Candle Fragrance For Home
When selecting a scented candle online you do not have to limit yourself to one fragrance. You can pick varied ones depending on the usage and the part of the home they are going to be used.
- There are scented candles for studying in scents of rose, rosemary or any mild fragrance that can occupy the kid’s room.
- Likewise, calming candles in lavender fragrance which promote sleep are apt for the bedroom.
- Strong scented candles of aromas like citrus, woody, vetiver, sandalwood, jasmine can be placed in bathrooms to keep them fresh.
Eager to bring in sweet smells to your home? The shop for best scented candles at Vaaree. Choose from the most popular candle scents that will transform your space into an oasis of tranquillity.
You will even find scented candles gift set that makes for a thoughtful surprise for your loved ones. Whatever the mood or fragrance preference, the best-smelling candles are available at Vaaree!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
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Do candles help with memory?
Yes, scented candles help with memory. With the right fragrance, one can recall even the oldest memories.
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How does perfume evoke memories?
Yes, the fragrance of a perfume has the power to evoke a few memories. Spritz on a special perfume that you haven’t used in a long time, smell it, and enjoy the flashback!
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What is the significance of scented candles?
The fragrance of scented candles does a lot more than just making the ambiance pleasant. A few of the benefits are listed below:
- Mood enhancement
- Alleviation in anxiety
- Triggers secretion of happy hormones
- Improves sleep
- Betters memory
- Promotes spiritual wellness and health
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Do scented candles help to set the mood?
As the fragrance of scented candles naturally calms our brain and promotes the secretion of happy hormones, they help to set the mood.
