When asked about his memories of the house where he spent part of his childhood, Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa says that more than sight, his memories are based on the smell of the house. According to him, each house has its own smell, which we do not always perceive when we are in it, but immediately recognize upon returning.
The smell is a powerful trigger for memory construction, more so than sight and hearing. This is because it is intimately connected to the brain parts that process emotion and memory. When we smell a specific scent, it is first detected by the olfactory bulb, located in the limbic system of the brain. This is the same part that processes emotion and memory, which can be so powerful in evoking past experiences and feelings. Thus, when we encounter an odor associated with a past experience or emotion, it can trigger a powerful emotional response and vivid memories.
