Have you ever experienced smelling something- say, a newly-cut grass in the backyard; the smell of cinnamon, or a maybe certain perfume- then it suddenly conjures powerful memories and even strong emotions? It’s amazing, isn’t it? That’s because our olfactory bulb (sense of smell) is directly connected to the part of our brain called amygdala and hippocampus, which are responsible for handling memory and emotion.
In light of this, I decided to do an experiment I like to call, "Memory Capsuling." It's something I have discovered even before I searched about its scientific implications. After that, I have made the conscious decision to purposely use different scents everytime I am in a certain 'phase or chapter' in my life, whenever I travel to a certain place, or if I want to capsulize a certain moment or event in my life I want to cherish after it's long gone. (I wrote poems about it in my poetry blog.)
Allow me to share to you my own experience from when I started to discover it up to when I purposely did memory capsuling:
Way back 2012
During my junior years in college especially during summer class, there's this perfume I used called Sweet Honesty in "Forever" by Avon. That summer was a memorable one for me because that was the first time I fell in love (ew) with a guy, established close friendships, and learned lot through pain (awwe). Around my senior year, I used another perfume which my mom gave me. I pretty much just accept any perfume given to me by my mom during that time since I cannot yet afford to have my own.
Flash forward to a few years later, and that perfume was restocked. My mom bought it and used it, and upon smelling it it's like I was suddenly taken back to that bittersweet summer of 2012. I can vividly recall some of the places me and my friends went to, the face of that guy, and the tiny details of when he first sat beside me and engaged in a small talk. It also reminded me of that time when the kilig I had felt suddenly turned into betrayal and heartbreak. I know it sounds cheesy, but that's the point. It brought back emotions and memories otherwise forgotten. That's when I first discovered the power of scent.
Why it's important to use specific scents
Around 2015, I frequently flew to Cebu with my then-boyfriend, to accompany him for his check-ups. With my newly-discovered knowledge about the power of scents in evoking memories, I bought 5mL of the perfume, "Still" by J.Lo from Scent Co.
I told my boyfriend I'd wear that perfume while we are in Cebu and stop using it when we go back to Butuan so that everytime I smell it, it reminds me of all our beautiful memories in Cebu. However, I got stuck with the perfume and started using it about a couple of years even after those Cebu travels. Now, when I smell that perfume it no longer reminds me of Cebu because it was just tainted with so many memories of many places and people. It no longer became unique to my Cebu experience. From then on I decided to be strict with my memory capsuling, and started to explore other scents I may use but on certain places and moments alone.
Use different scents during your travel
As a single young adult, I am fortunate to have been able to travel to a few cities and towns, whether alone or with a group. Being in a different city is so exciting. It opens doors to new adventures and insights. You get to discover new things about people and even yourself. You get to learn valuable things you could not have learned if you're stuck in the place you've always been. I did not want to miss those experiences and just let them fade in my memory, so I made it a point to use specific perfumes to certain cities. Take for example- the last time I went to Manila to accompany my mom (which was around October 2018), I borrowed her scent, "Soft Musk" by Avon.
From the time we went to the airport, to the whole 2 weeks I stayed there, I used that perfume. Soft musk reminded me of the times I walked around the neighborhood where me and my mom stayed. It reminded me of the time I walked around the streets of Guadalupe without using Google Map because I was such a sucker for adventure. Also because I was bored. (I was good with memorizing road directions, though). Anyway, that perfume also reminds me of the time I let my mom ride the MRT for the first time, when I led her to the streets of Makati where me and my ex-bf went to three years before. It reminded me of the time I rode the MRT from Guadalupe to North Avenue to visit Quezon City and the place where me and my ex-bf went to. It was a daring adventure for me, first of all because I went to a faraway city, alone. It invited bitterweet and nostalgic memory. It was a cathartic experience for me, necesary for me to move on (ka ers ba). Thanks to this perfume, I get to capsulize those moments. :)
New chapter
Right now I am embracing a new chapter in my life, and part of that is to let go of what was- including the perfume I used to wear. Now that I am in this new phase, I wanted to capsulize it with my new favorite scent, Escape (for Women) by Calvin Klein. It has a strong scent, but not too overpowering for someone with allergic rhinitis like myself. I just love its sensual scent. If you want to be remembered by people, you gotta use your signature scent. *wink wink*
*****
That's it, folks. I invite you to join me in my experiment called Memory Capsuling using scents. I'd like to end this post with this quotation:
“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”― Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Story Girl
If you want to remember, use your chosen scent. :)
Love lots,
Hannah