Smelling is how we get to know the world.
Before a baby is born, their sense of smell is already fully developed in the womb—it's the only sense that reaches full development before birth. Research shows that the food a mother eats during pregnancy influences the baby’s preferences for smell and taste. - this is where scent first begins to shape the course of our lives.
Once the baby is born, within just days, the newborn learns and begins to prefer their mother’s scent, associating it with comfort, safety, and love. Smell remains the most developed and dominant sense until around age ten. That means, during the first decade of life—when our worldview and sense of self are forming—our noses play a critical role. Early olfactory experiences not only shape our likes and dislikes, but also guide our emotional and social development.
Scent Story of Radiance
I remember when I was five or six, there used to be a lot of lilac bushes all over the neighborhood. I just started Grade 1, life was very simple and routine. Every day after school, I would play outside with my friends. The lilacs popped up passionately on every street corner, filling the dusk air with an opulent aroma. I remember vividly how impressed I was the first time I leaned over to take a deep breath near these flowers - an invigorating freshness intertwined with the most elegant sweetness I've ever experienced pervaded my lungs. It left such an unforgettable mark in my memory, that whenever I smell lilac, the excitement and surprise of a new discovery, the impression of the beauty of nature, and the purest, simplest joy, would all rush back and take over my consciousness.
But it doesn’t stop there. Scent continues to influence us throughout life. For example, body odor is a biological representation of our immune system. Studies have shown that women are more attracted to the scent of men whose immune systems are genetically complementary to theirs—an instinct that helps select a strong, healthy mate for future offspring.
Scent structures our preferences and aversions, depending on what’s associated with that smell.
Smelling Is How We Feel and Remember
No smell, no emotion.
The connection between smell, memory, and emotion is one of the most deeply rooted in our biology. Here’s how it works: fragrance molecules are captured by olfactory receptors in the upper nose. These receptors send signals to the olfactory bulbs at the front of the brain, which then relay information to the limbic system—the brain’s emotional and memory center. At this point, the smell is strongly associated with the corresponding memory and the emotions.
In fact, smell is the only sense that has a direct neural pathway to emotion and memory. When you encounter a scent, it acts as a “trigger” that pulls out all the associations stored in your mind - like your brain stored the scent, the memory, and the emotions all in the same folder. When that scent reappears, the entire folder opens. That’s why just one whiff can conjure a vivid image or an overwhelming emotional memory.
French author Marcel Proust captured this beautifully in À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time), when a sip of tea brought back an entire flood of childhood memories - instant, involuntary, and powerful.
Without smell, our ability to feel and remember would be significantly diminished, and we would lose access to one of the most potent sensory keys to our past.
Scent Shapes Who We Are
During childhood, scent plays a foundational role in shaping our preferences, which later influence our actions and behaviors. Over time, smell becomes woven into our self-image and our understanding of the world.
The scent of sandalwood and incense forms deep bonds in an Indian household.
The smell of pine trees and gingerbread can conjure up Christmas for many Christian families.
Salty sea air might bring a wave of nostalgia to someone who grew up near the ocean.
Scent anchors us to where we come from—our culture, our routines, our memories, and our identity.
On the other hand, losing the sense of smell can be devastating. People suffering from smell impairment often report a significant decline in quality of life. It affects our daily functioning, but even more importantly, it damages emotional and mental well-being. It creates a deep sense of disconnection. It's no surprise that when we lose scent, we lose a crucial link to who we are—resulting in higher rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Scent is not just a “nice to have” - it’s essential.
Make the Most Out of It
It’s lovely to light a scented candle during a hot bath, a romantic dinner, or at the beginning of a working session. But now we know scent’s power goes far beyond ambience - why stop there?
A well-selected scent can transport you back to childhood, unlock long-forgotten emotions, or reconnect you with your core self. It can remind you of your mother, a first love, or a place that brought you peace. Scents enrich our lives in ways we often underestimate.
To truly access this power, don’t just sniff passively - engage your mind. Pair scent with reflective practice. For example, using our journaling workbooks alongside a scent ritual can be a powerful way to build awareness and emotional clarity.
At Live With Hu, we believe in the power of daily rituals and reflective thinking. When you combine scent with intentional self-reflection, you create a space for growth. A scented ritual isn't just for relaxation - it can strengthen self-awareness and accelerate your journey of personal development.
Ready to get to know yourself better?