Sights and Smells

October 16th, 2008 (Life)

I remembered what I was going to write about. It’s a matter of familiarity. In particular, with regards to the senses. The workplace of every job I’ve worked has it’s own particular smell. I think that’s takes the longest to adjust to in a new position – the smell. The smell at any new place can be so overwhelming at first. If it’s unfamiliar, that can evoke feelings of either excitement or trepidation depending on your personality and possibly your mood that day. If the smell is familiar to your senses (such as a hint of vanilla or cinnamon) it could take you back to a memory from long ago. Familiarity of smells often breeds peace and relaxation rather than contempt regardless of whether it’s a “good” or “bad” smell.

Maybe this is just a guy thing. I heard recently that a woman’s smell can actually be an influence on how a man feels about her. Maybe this is why women are more concerned about their hygiene than men.

Back to the subject of smell relating to location. I walked into a friend’s place of business and was so overwhelmed by the new smells that I became dizzy and almost had to sit down. They certainly weren’t offensive, but were all so new to me that it sent my senses into overload. So, this is just something to keep in mind. When someone first comes into your home, your church or your workplace, what smells are they greeted with. Will they feel at home because the smells are familiar? Will they feel apprehensive at the hint of something they haven’t smelled before? Or, do I just have a hyper-sensitive nose?

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 8:03 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Sights and Smells”

1. Rebecca says:

   October 16, 2008 at 8:45 pm

   Steve you are exactly right! There’s nothing better than walking into your own home after you’ve been away on vacation. The smell is so comforting! This is also why they recommend you bake cookies or bread before an open house when you are trying to sell your home. The smell will make potential buyers feel at home, more at ease and more likely to consider your house. I’ve never thought about the smells at work before. That’s a very interesting thought.

   Reply
2. Bumble says:

   October 17, 2008 at 12:15 pm

   Soooo… What you are saying is that my office stinks? I see how it is.

   Reply
3. Leigh Mu Bai says:

   October 17, 2008 at 3:52 pm

   Just came across this:
   Emotion and Scent Create Lasting Memories

   Reply