The brain's emotional and memory centre

When we buy things like candles one of the first things we do is smell it, we start to think do I like it is it to floral? To sweet? And time and time again I have been left underwhelmed with the scent. They often can transport us into different times in our life, all through the scent glands that mix with our brain like a chemical reaction making us feel all kinds of ways. As  time went on, I started to think that maybe I could make one that had everything I wanted and enjoyed. That brings me to 2021 and where my candle journey began. I then thought ‘what the science is involved in making candles and why do we all react differently to certain smells and where they take us’, and the effect it has on us as individuals. These are some points I found while I was researching.

We react to smells instantly because scent molecules bypass our logical processing and go straight to the limbic system the brain's emotional and memory centre.

Effects on mood and emotions

Different fragrances can influence how people feel, although responses vary from person to person.

· Floral scents such as Lavender are often associated with relaxation.

· Citrus scents like orange or lemon are commonly perceived as energizing or refreshing.

· Minty scents may increase feelings of alertness.

· Warm scents such as vanilla are often linked with comfort and familiarity.

These effects tend to be modest rather than dramatic, and expectations and personal experiences play a large role.

Memory and learning

Smells are particularly effective memory cues. A fragrance encountered during a meaningful event may later trigger detailed recollections of that experience.

Why people react differently

Our response to a fragrance depends on

· Personal memories and associations

· Current mood and environment

· Previous exposure to the scent

For example, the same perfume might feel comforting to one person and unpleasant to another because of different life experiences associated with that smell.

In short, fragrances affect us primarily through their strong links to emotion and memory. They can influence mood, attention, comfort, and behaviour, but the effects are usually subtle and highly personal rather than universal.