Homely aromas are pretty powerful as the brain stores and recalls them, especially when they are connected to pleasant memories. From that overwhelming familiarity of home to evoking powerful emotional responses, here are some ways the smell of a house can keep you calm.
Cooking and Food Smells
There aren’t many aromas that make a house feel like a home more than the smells of cooking. Cooking is one of those things we get used to at a very young age, so there are memories and emotions attached to it. From classic home cooking to family BBQs, there are so many aromas that are hard to beat for special memories, like how Traeger pellets create that classic smoky aroma so familiar, so you can teach your kids to make the steaks just like grandpa used to!
The Familiarity of Home
Every home has a smell, whether good or bad! Either way, you can become used to the aromas around you, even if you don’t consciously notice them. This generates a signature scent that your brain associates with home or somewhere you enjoyed spending time. This is especially powerful when you are a child. This can instantly calm you down and help you feel secure, and is the main reason realtors use the odour of cookies and bread when trying to sell a house.
Homely Aromas Can Recall Memories
The brain can recognize a smell in 200 milliseconds, and you can recall a long-lost memory connected to an aroma in around 3.7 seconds. Perhaps you will recall your first Thanksgiving the next time you enjoy a pumpkin-spiced latte with friends. Or maybe the warmth of your grandma will pop back into your head when you walk into a restaurant that bakes bread just like she did. This is how surrounding yourself with familiar scents can keep you feeling content.
An Emotional Response
Your olfactory senses (sense of smell) are directly linked to a special part of the brain called the limbic system. This is one of the areas of the brain that is responsible for emotions and memory. This is why smells can invoke memory and change how you feel at the same time. The effect on the limbic system can be so powerful that a familiar smell, such as a family dinner, can instantly recall the memory associated with it and provide a sense of well-being, calm, and security.
Personal Protection and Safety
Of course, not all familiar smells are focused on food. There are many aromas that your brain will consciously and unconsciously store. These include the scents of your house, such as furniture, leather, and wood, carpets, and even how your bedroom smells. Because these aromas are directly linked to your home, which is your private sanctuary, your brain can also instantly provide a sense of security, helping you feel like you are in a safe environment.
Summary
Cooking and food smells are some of the best homely aromas that can impact your well-being. Familiar scents can also help you instantly recall treasured memories. The smells of home, such as furniture, are powerful for helping you feel like you are in a protected and safe environment.
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