Wake up and smell the...

I read somewhere some months ago that a human could possibly be able to smell up to a trillion different things which I find pretty incredible. The same article mentioned scientists revised that number from ten thousand; bonkers huh? I'm not a doctor, or a scientist, but smelling a trillion things would make for a very busy olfactory system and olfactory cortex I'd say.

I'm not exactly sure how it all works, but somehow our sense of smell triggers other things like memory, pleasure and even the avoidance of danger responses and, of course, the sense of smell is a large part of attraction and, therefore mating, also. I think these things have evolved to keep humankind alive and procreating.

As you read this, I think you'll probably be able to bring to mind something that smells good to you, or bad, and it will trigger memories of moments and events in which they featured or other responses that cause you to think certain ways. Go on, give it a try.

I use scents to do exactly that and have some I prefer which cause me to feel certain things. Freshly cut grass, the smell of vanilla and that smell when it rains in the forest after a long dry-spell; petrichor they call it, favourite perfumes or the smell of certain foods. Those, and others, never fail to bring me back to a moment, or a feeling within myself, and I use them to effect my mood, temperament, pleasure or so on.

An example?

My mother baking bread or cookies when I was a kid. The warmth of the kitchen, the industriousness, purpose of the act and anticipation of the end result...or licking the mixing spoon or bowl. The excitement of watching baked goods rise in the oven and the moments when I'd sneak a bite out of something...all such good memories.

It was a nice time for me, comfortable and safe, and it was a time when life seemed endless and so simple. I yearn for that now, but life isn't endless or simple as an adult. But...should I smell that these days, baking, I can take myself back to those moments as a kid and feel them once again; my memory triggers the thoughts and the thoughts make me feel. It's nice.

Sunday's are like that for me these days. I look for comfort on Sunday mornings, contentment. The smell of toasting bread, brewing coffee and sizzling eggs and bacon, and eating it all, provides me that contentment and they all say lazy Sunday morning to me.

Today was no different although there was no toast...I made pancakes topped with crispy bacon, fried eggs and copious amounts of maple syrup with hash browns on the side. There was coffee too, always coffee, and it all became a long and comfortable moment of enjoyment which is exactly what Sunday mornings should be. All of this comes with a smell and it's wondrous. No matter where I am, if I smell those things it brings me back to Sunday mornings at home, relaxation, contentment and comfort.

Have you ever had similar moments? You know, when a smell comes to you and it triggers a memory? It might not be a Sunday breakfast moment, or something from your childhood...it may be the scent of a perfume that triggers you, an open fire, the smell of aviation fuel, pizza cooking, the soil, sea breezes or crisp mountain air; it could be anything. If you like, tell me about it below...maybe a time when a smell that brought you back to a favourite moment or one that makes you feel happy, content or otherwise.