Andrelina Hsu Week 13 - Scented Memories

Scented Memories

    Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 Sunscreen Lotion—that is what I would tell someone if they asked me to describe my summer. 

    A few days ago, I was organizing my bathroom drawers and cleaning out my expired sunscreens, and I couldn’t help but uncap one and take a whiff. The moment the pasty yet sweet smell of the Neutrogena sunscreen entered my nostrils, I closed my eyes, and for a second, it was as if the weather was 80 degrees and I was at Aqua Adventure, reapplying sunscreen for the fourth time of the day in the breakroom. But then I open my eyes, and I’m back in my bathroom. 

    The way such a simple item was able to teleport me to an entirely different season was really interesting to me, so I did a bit of research. I found an article written by Harvard talking about the science behind it, and they included a quote stating how “smell and memory are stored as one memory.” This scientific phenomenon is known as the Proustian memory effect, talking about how our olfactory system, responsible for our sense of smell, is linked to the brain's limbic system, which controls emotions and memories. Therefore, when we encounter a familiar scent, it can evoke memories and emotions tied to past experiences associated with that smell.

This Is Why We Associate Memories So Strongly With Specific Smells

    Unknowingly, the scent of my Neutrogena sunscreen became a trigger for my memories of summer—days spent working at the water park, tanning under the sun, and making memories with friends. Nevertheless, it's not just about the smell; it's about the sensations it invokes—the warmth of the sun on my skin, the laughter of friends echoing through the air, the anticipation of going down the slides. It's about the feeling of freedom and joy that comes with those carefree summer days. 

    As I stood there, holding that bottle of sunscreen, I realized that summer isn't just a season; it's a state of mind—one that is stored inside my mind, tucked away in the corners of my memories, ready to be unlocked with just a whiff of sunscreen. I think that it’s really cool how something as simple as a smell can give us the superpowers of teleportation and time travel.

    In conclusion, this speaks to the richness of human experience. It's a reminder to cherish the small moments and to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

Image credits: https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-associate-memories-so-strongly-with-specific-smells-5203963


Comments

  1. Peter ShrMarch 25, 2024 at 5:34 PM

    Hi Andrelina! I really appreciate your introduction of what reminds you of summer, as it immediately engaged my curiosity on the specificity of the sunscreen name. I also believe that you did an excellent job in concisely and appropriately describing the Harvard article on the Proustian memory effect. In my own blog, I also mentioned how smell and memory were associated with one another as an example of sensory details being intertwined with memories. It was interesting to examine how you delved deeper into the exact science behind this phenomenon. I feel that this creates a balance in your blog between the emotional and physical viewpoint, as we humans tend to share an intimate relationship with our core memories, but there is a logical and seemingly simple biological explanation. In your blog, you demonstrated how you became aware of the science behind the correlation between your Neutrogena sunscreen and your experiences in the summer. I would like to comment on how you were once unaware of this connection: the act of realizing this connection and then remembering that act would probably reinforce whatever associated emotion you had with that object or scent that could trigger those memories. For instance, I watched Castle in the Sky when I was three, but it was only after many years did I truly pondered it and solidified my belief on that movie.

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  2. Rashmi NavalpakkamMarch 27, 2024 at 4:58 PM

    Hi Andrelina,
    Your blog discussing the correlation between scent and nostalgic memories was truly enlightening to read. While I’ve associated memories with food, music, movies, and much more, I never thought to connect memories with scents and smells. It was insightful to read your concise description of the Proustian memory effect and how our olfactory system is linked to our brain's limbic system. I also loved the way you structured your blog - starting with the long and specific sunscreen name was definitely a smart move to intrigue the audience. Elaborating on your recent personal experience with cleaning out different sunscreens and then blending scientific knowledge with personal experiences made your blog very compelling. White I can share your feelings of nostalgia for the summer with a particular scent - I can’t tie that nostalgia back to the scent of sunscreen. What brings about my nostalgic memories of the summer is the scent of gasoline whenever cars speed by. I spent all my summers from the first grade to the tenth grade (excluding the summers when we were all in the pandemic) in India with my family. I can still remember those moments getting out of the plane, passing through the long and endless line of immigration, and the final moments when I stepped into the airport, taking in the scent of the (unfortunately highly polluted but) amazingly smelling gasoline in the air. Your blog has inspired me to continue observing more scents that speak to the richness of my human experience.

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