Scientists have found why smells bring back distant memories. An area of the brain assigns memories to smells and stores them for decades. The area can recall memories very clearly years later. A professor said smells are stored in the olfactory brain. This part of the brain is dedicated to our sense of smell. It can temporarily store olfactory memories. The professor wanted to know if the brain can store long-term memories as well.
There are many smells that take us back to our childhood. Smells from cookies in the oven or perfume can bring back memories of growing up. Some smells can take you to another point in time. They can make you wish you were back in the past, or make you want to escape. Smells can even encourage you to buy things in stores. Many stores spray fragrances in stores to make people buy things they loved years ago.