Mini Science Lesson: Scents bypass the thalamus and go straight to the brain's smell center, known as the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, which might explain why the smell of something can so immediately trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion.
Now to the good stuff: You might have noticed that the smell of grass and rubber cleats can bring back the memory of childhood soccer games in starker detail than watching a home movie of one of those games. Or the scent of fog on alfalfa triggers a memory of horses trotting over, hooves pawing the ground in excitement, or a gentle nudge against your shoulder to let you know it’s past sunrise. Smells have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses, and neuroscience may know the reason why.
When you see, hear, touch, or taste something, that sensory information first heads to the thalamus, which acts as your brain's relay station. The thalamus then sends that information to the relevant brain areas, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory, and the amygdala, which does the emotional processing.
This is why certain scents seem to transport you back in time.
My sons are married with families of their own but I still like to fill my home with fragrances of the past, the future, or holiday warmth.
I thought I’d share my simple ways to create ‘holiday scents and rekindle holiday memories’.
I use simmering potpourri for the house.
While some simmer a mixture of spices on the stove. I prefer mini crock-pots.
I find that I usually have my ingredients in my kitchen cupboards or refrigerator bin to create my holiday scent.
(onegoodthingbyJillee -photo credit)
Simmering Holiday Potpourri
1/2 orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon cloves, whole or ground
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Add all the ingredients to a small crock-pot. The one I use is a dip crock-pot that came with my regular-size slow cooker. Fill the crock-pot with water about one inch below the rim.
For a regular-sized crock-pot you can triple the recipe; or double the recipe to to simmer on the stove in a medium sauce pan.
Soon your house will smell like holiday happiness!
Holiday Outdoor Potpourri
lemon, sliced
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon vanilla
(follow simmering instructions as listed above.)
Simmering Holiday Potpourri II
1/2 orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon cloves, whole or ground
1 teaspoon nutmeg
What does your home smell like during the holidays?
I, like my mysterious heroine in “Brede”, Rodeo Romance Book 2, like the scent of gingerbread cookies. This will be simmering in my mini-crock-pot this weekend.
Favorite scents? Please share in the comments section.
Remember it’s our Candy Kisses contest and giveaways this month.
May your Holidays be filled with Warm Wishes and Candy Cane Kisses,
Connie
You're so right about scents. We don't have a particular scent for our Christmas season because I don't think about it. I wish I had! Thanks for sharing these recipes. I'm going to try one!
ReplyDeleteI make do with a thingy that heats wax melts, but scent can often drive how my day goes. Thanks for this, Connie!
ReplyDeleteTHIS is fantastic, Connie! And I couldn't agree more about scents transporting us back in time! (well said btw :D) I've always wanted to try making my own simmers, but now I need to try yours. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these great ideas Connie! Liz’s comment has reminded me I have one of things wax melting things. Will go have a sniff, to see what I’ve got.
ReplyDeleteFun post. Did you mean to repeat the same recipe twice? I have a small crock pot so when I'm not simmering chili or stew, I'll be trying one of your recipes.
ReplyDeleteI love scents any time, but more especially at Christmas. I've often wanted to try simmering potpourri, but have yet to do so. I do use a lot of Bath and Body plug-ins. I think every room in our house has one. They use essential oils and I'm all for that. I love that my house smells like Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI usually have an apple and cinnamon candle going. I also make fruitcake, orange slice cake and apple pie, apple crumb pie and apple pie with caramel on the top (the way my Aunt made it and she gave me the recipe. Can you tell my sons love there apple pie.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake even when people make fun of it, I speak up about how delicious it is. So there.
DeleteI love the smell of pine during the holidays. We always had a real tree which smelled so good. Plus, I'd go outside and clip a variety of evergreen boughs and bring them in to decorate all over the house. It would smell amazing. Now I have to make due with a pine scented candle. It still smells great though.
ReplyDeleteThis is genius, Connie. Thanks for sharing. I copied them all.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Connie. My daughter and I were in the mall when the best scent hit me. I said let's track this fragrance and go in the store. Well, it was the Yankee Candle Store. Guess they know how to drum up business.
ReplyDeleteMany, many years ago I read an article in which some know-it-all psychologist said we can't remember smells. I probably rolled my eyes. Some scents recall strong memories, as the smell of petunias does for me of my grandmother's flower garden. When we've had a house for sale, I tried to keep it smelling like chocolate chip cookies. It only takes a tiny bit of dough in the oven to create the aroma.
ReplyDeleteI love the scent of baking during the holidays. I don't know why it smells different than other times of the year, but it really does :)
ReplyDelete