Flower Fragrance, Memories and Their Emotions

The fragrance of Night Blooming Jasmine really 'takes me back' to Asia. Marcel Proust said smells bring back complete memories, including their emotional content, so we experience them as if we were re-living the event. I used to think Proust was exactly as satirized by Monty Python, self-consciously overly romantic and intellectual. I can never get through any of his books.


But the scent of Night Blooming Jasmine really brings back the nights my siblings and I sat on the balcony in Hong Kong, telling each other stories (and feeding the mozzies!).


I'm glad it's a tough plant that can take care of itself. For that same reason, I have cats for pets. They need food and water, but that's it. They never get out of shape so they don't need to be walked. They don't care what you think so you don't have to be attentive. And they're small enough that you can overpower them if you have to. :)


The neurologists now say that Proust was right about the close association of smells and memories because the smell sensors are right next to the primitive brain where emotional memories are stored, so we do associate smells with emotions.


Here in Western culture, consumer marketers think smells like cinnamon and pine are nostalgic. For us Asians, probably insense and hot garlic oil work better!