Recently when researching different types of fragrance oils and choosing which scents to keep and which to remove – I did so in a logical way. I choose some new fragrances, removed some old ones that did not sell and tightened up scents that I thought were somewhat duplicated in their category.

Then I stated looking at the fragrances we would be incorporating into our soap and new bath and body products. Most of these were new and since the selection of fragrances was smaller, the task was quickly over. I felt maybe I was missing something? So…I started researching other companies, other artisans I buy from, just to get a feel for what they offered in the way of scents for their body products and soap. I was really surprised by what I found.

What is with all the foodie smells in bath and body products? I personally have no desire to smell like a cupcake, but I guess there are a great number of ladies out there that are into smelling edible. Not too long ago I read an article that said the number one favorite aroma to a man was pumpkin pie…that I understood, but I never thought about actually wearing…on my body…a scent that reminded me…much less was, food like. But I am not here to judge so I started doing some research and found some interesting things.

It has long been held that memories are triggered more by the sense of smell than any of the other senses. Nothing invokes memories more than the smell of something, not even seeing, feeling, touching or hearing. It has to do with how our brains are wired and the limbic system – the emotional part of our brains. Interestingly enough the first sniff of a new odor and our brain attaches it to an associated person, feeling, moment and/or situation. It forges a link that is unconscious on our behalf for the most part automatic in recall. So the next time we get a sniff of that odor we are transported in our emotional minds back to that association. Since we are not born adults, many of these associates are made in our youth, as we grow up. There have been studies on babies that were exposed to odors while inside the womb. Even if offensive to others like onions or garlic, the born baby displays an attachment to the odor when born, finding it comforting and soothing. WOW

This area of the brain with these uber charged olfactory nerves is meshed in with the areas of brain that control emotion and moods, learning and alertness. Aromatherapy studies have mapped these brain waves and it’s been proven, taking a wiff of certain smells invokes emotional reactions, controls levels of awareness as well as having the ability to alter states of mind. We have all had that moment when really sleepy and you smell fresh brewed coffee…suddenly you feel a bit more energized or alert. Or how about that big inhale of lemon that makes you salivate and your mouth pucker. It’s all programmed! WOW (again)

That is just a drop in the bucket of how powerful the sense of smell is…look at the science of aromatherapy and how vast and far reaching those studies are…

So I asked myself – why? Why is the sense of smell so important and why all the special treatment. Research says…it is part of our instinct to survive.  Early man relied on the sense of smell to hunt and find food. Knowing what smelled good and what was rotten kept early man safe…for the most part. Odors for the early man were also helpful in finding a mate – and I am pretty sure in keeping one.

I now have why scent is so important and realize how crucial a part of our lives the sense of smell is.  So deductively (yes, I wanted Sherlock Holmes last night) I am slowly figuring out why there is such an attraction to foodie scents.

We as a species love to eat, especially cakes and cookies, pies and candies. What else would give us such joy and elation than those fat pills, especially in our youth when we knew not of the evils they contained! Bring on the cake batter, rich vanillas and butter creams of our childhood birthday celebrations. The lollies, gummies and bubble gum given to us as kids by our lovable relatives, family and friends. As children… we would if we could have swam in a sea of chocolate bars and nutty concoctions similar to those  given to us as rewards for jobs well done or as special treats. The pies and fruity whips of our holiday dinners when all the family was together, happy and jolly. Not to mention the gum drops and sugary candies bestowed by Santa and in every candy bowl during Christmas.  And don’t forget the mellow marshie tweets, peanut butter laden eggs and jellies of Easter when you frolicked with playmates finding the baskets FULL of candies. Or what about becoming your favorite hero or goblin in an effort to be rewarded by a bag full of candies by your neighbors on Halloween. And don’t forget that big ‘ole honking piece of white baked bliss you shoved into the face of your beloved on your wedding day? All those lovely, emotion invoking memories of joy – smacked into our brains…all associated with sugary yummies. It’s a wonder we all don’t want to roll around in sugar sprinkled convections and smell like a bakery!