What the Smell?

I've heard in the past from several sources which I couldn't now site that one's sense of smell is the strongest memory cue. It doesn't really seem to be true, but I suppose it may be because there aren't a whole lot of smells that really stand out to us. However, if you smell a distinct smell at a circus, and then get a whiff of that same distinct smell later, you would be taken back a lot more fully than you would at looking at a picture of a circus. 

This sort of makes sense because smell is such a part of the atmosphere. You can close your eyes and breathe it in and smell where you are. You feel it, sense it, with the smell. We often don't notice it because our smells of home are so familiar that we don't register them. When you travel, though, I assure you you will be aware of new smells. 

Sometimes a smell will take me back to another part of the word. Usually it's the smell of something burning. A couple years ago, after I'd come back from Kenya I was working in Albertson's and all of a sudden got a whiff of burning chicken, and I nearly started crying. Not because I'm a chicken activist, but because it all of a sudden transported me back to Kenya where I'd sit on the roof of our Guest-House and drink in the ambiance. Needless to say, we ate a lot of chicken whilst in Kenya. 

Today's scent is another sort of smokey burning smell, and I think it's coming from the restaurant next door. It reminds me of India. India. Now that's a distinct smelling place. Smoke, pollution, dirt, food cooking, spices, incense, and smog. I remember driving down the streets with our windows down and being so thankful for each stand we passed that was cooking something aromatic, or incense being burnt (even if it was to a Hindu idol) because it gave my nose a break for few moments. As in it provided a rest from the pungent odors, not as in the smell was so strong it punched me in the nose and broke it. 

There is only one other smell that has ever taken me back that wasn't a smokey burning smell reminding me of an underdeveloped country. It is the smell of Cherry Chapstick, and it takes me back to childhood. I can't pinpoint where and when, or even why, really. I'm pretty sure I had a tube or two in my youth and thought it tasted good. 

Even though these smells don't transport me to a specific moment or memory, I do declare they take you somewhere. And for me it's somewhere warm, fuzzy, lovely, and smokey.