Have you ever caught the faintest trace of perfume in the air and suddenly found yourself standing in your grandmother’s hallway, or walking through your childhood garden, or even falling in love all over again? That, my friend, is the mysterious magic of scent—and its uncanny ability to take us back in time without so much as a blink of conscious thought.
Out of all our senses, scent is the only one that bypasses the thinking brain entirely. It doesn’t ask for permission. It doesn’t check if we’re busy or braced. It simply is. A direct, visceral reaction. One moment you’re stirring your tea, and the next you’re flooded with memories you didn’t even know you were holding.
The Nose Knows Before You Do
Here’s a little whisper of science for you. Our sense of smell is wired straight into the limbic system—the part of the brain that holds our emotions and memories. Unlike sight or sound, which have to pass through the ‘rational’ areas first, scent goes straight to the emotional core.
That’s why just one whiff of jasmine might stir something ancient inside you, or why the scent of clove and sweet orange might make you feel safe, warm, and deeply nostalgic (especially if your winters were filled with mulled wine, pomanders, or spiced cakes).
And it’s exactly why, just the other day, I found myself smiling halfway through blending a few oils. The reason? A generous drop of May Chang had suddenly transported me—without warning—back to being a little girl, sneaking a dip into my grandmother’s packet of sherbet lemon sweets. That fizzy, citrus zing. That joy. That innocence. All in one breath.
A Therapist’s Secret Ingredient
In my clinical aromatherapy practice, I’ve always been aware that what we smell matters. Not just in terms of its chemical constituents and therapeutic effects (though those are important too), but in the way it connects people back to themselves.
Sometimes, a client chooses a blend not because of what’s written on paper, but because it feels like home. That’s not coincidence. That’s scent memory at work. It’s something I love to honour in bespoke blends—whether it’s recreating the fragrance of a holiday in Provence, or a rose garden long gone, or the exact blend someone wore when they first became a mother.
Creating Memory on Purpose
But what if we didn’t just stumble into these scent-triggered memories? What if we created them on purpose?
Imagine bottling the aroma of a big life moment—weddings, births, travels, healing journeys—and using that bespoke blend as a sort of aromatic anchor. A signature scent not for fashion, but for the soul.
When we work consciously with scent like this, we can create a kind of emotional shorthand: “I am safe.” “I am healing.” “I am loved.” A single breath becomes a doorway back to yourself.
A Little Invitation
So here’s something gentle to ponder today:
What scent holds your oldest memory?
What aroma could you bottle to support the version of you that needs soothing, joy, courage, or peace?
If you’re curious about creating a personal memory blend and want to explore your scent story —something meaningful just for you—I’d love to help. Whether it’s a seasonal scent to anchor your rituals or a therapeutic blend for emotional wellness, there’s something incredibly powerful about weaving memory, intention, and aroma together. Drop me a message or join one of my workshops. Fiona@themorganacademy.com
With love and lavender,
Fiona
x
