STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

lilyann · Dooney & Bourke

smells triggering past

NCshopper · Hermes

Smells and music for me can just transport me--it's so weird.

Bath and Body Works years ago had a flower and herb scented lotion and it always reminded me of being at Lake Powell on a houseboat in Arizona.

And my grandmother always wears Clinique Aromatics Elixer. Every time I smell it, I think of her.

There are a handful of songs that take me back to my study abroad experience in Australia. I made a mixed cd of those songs just for that reason. I try not to listen to it too much though because I want to keep those songs associated with those memories as much as possible. I don't want the songs to become tainted with new memories, if that makes any sense.

sfclinevandy · Coach

All the time...

A certain Aussie shampoo they don't make anymore reminds of summer camp because that's what my mom packed for me and I only used it there.

Thierry Muelger Angel perfume reminds me of my best friend from high school.

The smell of cigars (not being smoked, but unlit cigars) remind me of being little and going to the mall. My parents always parked by the cigar shop and right when we walked in you could smell the cigars.

Lilykind · Hermes

Any perfume with rose notes instantly reminds me of a friend of my mom's...my favorite "auntie" wore a plain rose perfume that was very pleasant. It was always a treat when she came to visit and stay with the family for a few days. It's the reason why I can't bear to wear Stella or YSL Paris, because the rose notes are too stong and remind me too much of her.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

The smell of Scotch Tape reminds me of XMAS and Finesse shampoo reminds me of a pretty girl in Elementary school I wanted to be friends with.

halleybird · Hermes

did you know that scent is very strongly tied to long-term memory (perhaps the strongest sense in relation to memory?). Something about your olfactory center being near a certain part of the brain.

Anyway, a certain combination of laundry detergent/fabric softener reminds me of my dad's house. I can always tell when someone in my family is wearing something that was washed there. Oh, and Drakkar Noir reminds me of my husband when he was in HS.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

it's kind of a confusing story...

Well, in hs I loved to go to the school library and pick books. I was really into a certain author. The librarian used to smoke pipe, so the whole room (we had a small library) smelled like tobacco. It was really good! So, I also used to meet there this young prof of greek& latin&italian language/lit who liked to talk to the librarian and liked "my" author (and every girl in the school had a crush on him!), so he'd talk to me and suggest which book to read next.

So, now smell of tobacco reminds me of this prof and of my books (btw, I am rereading on of them now...!

As for music: I definitely choose the music I am listening based on something/someone I want to remember now: every single piece is tied to a person or a place! Somethings I can't even listen to, I get too homesick!

And also food. Last year, my mom bought me a pomegranate while she was in the States. After she left, as I started eating it, and I remembered of my granpa (who is dead now) who used to bring us pomegranates from the country, and me ans sisters would spend hours trying to eat them and we'd make a mess... It was so intense I started to cry b/c I was missing both mom and granpa!

bex · Chanel

when I studied abroad in Paris, I purposefully chose a shower gel and lotion from the Body Shop that was called "ocean" or something like that b/c everytime I smell it now, it reminds me of my time there.

there was also a lotion called "happy daisy" from B&BW that i used only when i spent 2 weeks in Venezuela and it always reminds me of there too...

Elle · Hermes

I have quite a few, and I'm planning on getting a new perfume to wear on my wedding day to take advantage of said phenomenon .

VS Strawberries and Champagne lotion reminds me of shopping at the Limited in Jr. High because the always had it on the checkout counter.

Winterfresh gum reminds me of the very early parts of Fh's and my relationship - stealing kisses behind the skating rink!

Pipe tobacco - walking on the beach with my Dad.

Orange Gelee - sunbathing in the backyard with my Mom before everyone realized it was 'bad' to sunbathe.

Roasting chestnuts - walking in NYC

Elderberries - the worst stomach virus EVER KNOWN TO MAN. Still makes my stomach turn!

Febreze - Danceteam, we all tried to use it in our dance sneakers to tone down the noxious fumes.

Aqua Net - Many a dance recital.

Maddie · Coach

Nivea lotion reminds of the summer I spent in France.

Garnier Fructis reminds me of last year.

Lush shampoo bar reminds me of India.

Music also really takes me back.

bex · Chanel

LMonet wrote:

I have quite a few, and I'm planning on getting a new perfume to wear on my wedding day to take advantage of said phenomenon

what a great idea LMonet! I am stealing your idea!

NCshopper · Hermes

Ah! Just thought of another!

Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers perfume. Toooooooooooooootally reminds me of 7th grade when every girl in the 7th grade (myself included) doused themselves with it. Blech!

Vanilla perfumes remind me of the same time period for the same reason. I can not wear vanilla scented anything anymore.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

BargainQueen wrote:

The smell of Scotch Tape reminds me of XMAS

Me too!

Lilacs..5th grade elementary. In the schoolyard along the fences was lilac trees lined up. Smelled so good. Me and my friends would go and pick them on recess. Definintly one of my favorite scents.

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

Bonne Belle Starfruit Lipsmackers: I was really into Pearl Jam in middle school, and when I went to my first PJ concert I apparently was using this, b/c a few years ago I got one and used it, and it was like a major time warp.

Mia · Kate Spade

'Fairy' brand dishsoap always reminds me of England and the scent of Dr Pepper Lipsmacker reminds me of highschool.

The smell of the sea always makes me think of home, whether I'm here or not.

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

You've gone and brought on a case of olfactory nostalgia in me...as I type this I could swear I smell the combo 'leather jacket/ck one cologne/cigarette smoke' that tugs at my heartstrings and will always remind me of my son's namesake.

MissMee · Kate Spade

I have one I can think of. The smell of Lysol (just the regular, original scent) reminds me of when I was preggo w/ my daughter and had a new puppy w/ the runs. It was such a horrible time. I had morning sickness like a MFer, my husband was traveling for 2 weeks straight, and my puppy had the horrible runs. I had to go down to her crate and clean up the mess. I used Lysol wipes and spray to kill the germs, but even now the smell makes me feel queasy!

laken1 · Hermes

Chloe Narcisse reminds me of the meanest guy I ever dated. He insisted that I wear it.

Ralph Lauren Polo cologne reminds me of jr high.

Basically if someone wore 1 cologne / perfume 100% of the time that scent reminds me of them. My dad used to smell like Lagerfield. He doesn't wear it anymore but I still think of him.

Burning leaves remind me of being a kid & doing yard work. Fresh cut grass / hay the same.

bumblebee · Coach

Chlorine. It brings me back to summertime when I was a little kid, swimming lessons, going to the pool with my grandpa or my mom. It's a happy happy smell.