June 16, 2022
Ever wondered why the smell of your first love’s cologne is still triggering to this day? Or why, every time you smell jasmine you’re transported back to that Italian summer you spent riding scooters through Positano back in your 20s? You’re not alone – and it’s also no mistake. Scent and memory are intrinsically – and anatomically – linked which is why fragrance is perhaps the most powerful beauty category of all.
For years now, scientists have been intrigued by olfaction (the sense of smell). In fact, from an evolutionary standpoint, it’s considered one of the oldest senses (because the smell receptor was needed to find food, mating partners and to sense danger), and plays an important role in our interpersonal relationships, the social networks we choose to be a part of, and preferences for things such as food.
However, one of its most magical attributes is its ability to evoke emotion and recall memory. In fact scientists have, for years, been researching ways to support and enhance learning and memory through scent. This special power is unique to the olfactory system, because of the anatomy of the brain and also that, unlike the other senses, scent “information” gets passed directly through the limbic system (that’s the emotions and memory part of the brain). It’s not surprising then that smell can influence your mood too.
Many studies have proven that odour is the most powerful sense when triggering memories, and that smell and emotions are not only intertwined, but live in the brain for years. It’s why the smell of your mother’s perfume, or the lavender soap your grandma used can continue to calm and soothe you well into adulthood. This is because, as researchers have also found, that smell is the only sense fully developed in utero, and the most developed sense until you reach 10. This means childhood is generally where you set most of your scent preferences for life.
Demeter Fragrance Company have honed in on this with their single-note eau de colognes that speak to ultra-specific scent moments from baby powder to petrichor (the distinct smell of soil after the rain) and even the whimsical, like pixie dust. Whatever your favourite smell, Demeter has probably created a scent for it (check out the range here).
Need more proof of the power of scent? Read what some of our customers have to say:
Demeter Fragrance Library Baby Powder, $32.95
“An absolutely beautiful soft gentle baby powder fragrance that brings back wonderful childhood memories. This fragrance smells true to its name and lasts a long time on the skin. I love this product so much I’m planning on buying other products in the baby powder range.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Bonfire, $32.95
“All I can say is I love love love this scent! The first spray has a strong alcohol note, but let this subside and the beautiful scent of smoking wood and fire come through, takes me back to the bonfire parties I went to while in the US, just totally makes me feel at ease.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Daffodil, $32.95
“Very pleasant smell, it’s fresh and subtle. The smell triggers happy thoughts.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Pineapple, $32.95
“Don’t know how they did it but this smells like fresh, sweet pineapple juice, just incredible. Actually it smells BETTER than fresh pineapple. This is what I remember pineapple smelled like when I was a kid. It’s sweet but not fake sweet, it truly smells like the real thing should.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Sunshine, $32.95
“One of my favourites! It really does evoke feelings of joyful, sunny days.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Salt Air, $32.95
“Very evocative of childhood beach holidays and that sunscreen smell and pandanus palms. Demeter got it just right.”
Demeter Fragrance Library Almond, $32.95
“I ordered Almond as I like the smell of food with almond in it. It does smell good enough to eat and brings back memories of when I used to eat slivers of marzipan as a kid.”