How Smells Move Us So Profoundly

Have you ever caught a scent that made you feel like you were transported to another time? A faint smell of perfume might remind you of a loved one. The smell of freshly cut grass might remind you of a childhood summer. Or, a hint of spice might remind you of a festive meal. Scent can make us feel strong emotions and remember things better than sight or sound.

The Power of Smell and Emotions

Our sense of smell is especially connected to the brain. Sights and sounds are processed through the thalamus before reaching the emotional centers, but scents bypass this relay station entirely. Instead, they go straight to the limbic system, which controls memory, emotion, and instinct. This explains why one smell can make us feel or remember something strongly before we even know what we're smelling.

Here are some common examples of scent memory:

• The fresh smell of clean linen will remind you of home.
• The smell of vanilla reminds me of baking with my mom.
• The strong, refreshing smell of pine reminds you of the holidays.

The Mystery of Naming Scents

Unlike colors or sounds, scents are notoriously difficult to describe. Language often fails us when it comes to smells, leaving us grasping for metaphors and comparisons. As Diane Ackerman so poignantly wrote:

“If there are words for all the pastels in a hue—the lavenders, mauves, fuchsias, plums, and lilacs—who will name the tones and tints of a smell? It’s as if we were hypnotized en masse and told to selectively forget.
It may be, too, that smells move us so profoundly, in part, because we cannot utter their names. In a world sayable and lush, where marvels offer themselves up readily for verbal dissection, smells are often right on the tip of our tongues—but no closer—and it gives them a kind of magical distance, a mystery, a power without a name, a sacredness.”


— Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses

This mystery gives fragrance a sacred quality—one that connects us with emotion in a deeply personal and often unspoken way.

How Candles Can Support Emotional Wellness

Scented candles offer a gentle, accessible way to harness the emotional power of fragrance in daily life. Whether we’re seeking calm, energy, focus, or emotional release, certain scents can help guide our mood and mindset.

Here are a few examples of how specific scents can support emotional wellness:

• Lavender: Known for its calming effects, perfect for relaxation or sleep.
• Citrus (like orange or lemon): Uplifts mood and promotes clarity.
• Eucalyptus: Refreshes the senses and clears the mind.
• Rose: Helps ease emotional tension and brings a sense of comfort.