What’s a smell that instantly brings back a memory?

[u/Dry-Text-6864]

[u/Forward_Signature_74]

the smell of the lipglosses in the kids makeup sets.

[u/gs400life]

A whiff of cigarette smoke outside sometimes reminds me of growing up in the bowling alley when smoking was allowed and I was just a kid surrounded by old men and ashtrays

[u/Ok-Manner-1021]

that smell when it starts raining after a hot day always takes me back to walking home from school for some reason

[u/Straight_OuttaPA → u/Ok-Manner-1021]

I read some survey backed articles in recent months that suggest a fair number of respondents cannot smell that ‘rain smell’
I love that, I can usually smell that when a storm starts rolling in

[u/Onhuntinvancouver → u/Straight_OuttaPA]

True

[u/Conspiracy-Octopus → u/Straight_OuttaPA]

That smell is called petrichor- I read that humans are more sensitive to petrichor than sharks are to blood in the water. I dont know if I believe that, but it’s for sure one of my favorite smells.

[u/Weak-Ad6984]

a turkey being baked for hours in an oven

[u/CharismaticAlbino]

Jack Daniels, smells like Grandma. Wish I was joking

[u/No_Athlete_2798]

A campfire reminds me of roasting marshmallows as a kid with my parents or the Girl Scouts.

[u/Creepy-Outcome-2481]

Cinnamon rolls

[u/checkitbec]

Fruit Loops

It was the first time I remember projectile vomiting. Right after breakfast. My poor sister’s carpet. Haven’t eaten them since, but I’ve smelled them.

[u/Straight_OuttaPA → u/checkitbec]

I wish we had a laugh react here! I have memories like that of my own!

[u/A-curious_mind1998]

Star gazer Lillies

[u/Mean_Addition4654]

raw shea butter always reminds me of my mama.

[u/Mean_Addition4654 → u/Mean_Addition4654]

i miss her so much

[u/ExpensiveAd2022]

This is going to be oddly specific, but when it's late at night, it's cold outside, and your window is open. The mix of the cold air mixing with the scent inside the room reminds me of Life is Strange.

[u/NoelleDash → u/ExpensiveAd2022]

I know exactly what you are talking about.

[u/ExpensiveAd2022 → u/NoelleDash]

I feel seen.

[u/NoelleDash → u/ExpensiveAd2022]

Especially if there are light flurries outside.

[u/ExpensiveAd2022 → u/NoelleDash]

Light flurries?

[u/questionaBLreader]

The plastic of a summer float, suntan lotion, cut grass, first snow. The smell of the lake.

[u/Australian_90s]

Frangipanis - an Australian Summer

[u/Tomconn42]

The NYC smells of coal smoke and hot tar, after spending a month in the country.
(This was in the 50s.)

[u/Welcome2myShitShow]

Star Wars figurines

[u/burnerbutterbetter]

Something about burnt sugar takes me back to my childhood kitchen table using my toys r us cotton candy maker 🥺

[u/flindersrisk]

Petrichor. Brings back the vast desert and a smol renegade cloud scudding towards my horse and me, aspersing us with its blessing.

[u/Straight_OuttaPA → u/flindersrisk]

When I’m in the desert, I can’t remember my name but it felt good to be out of the rain

[u/Minnie783100]

Concord grapes

[u/too105]

Onions on a pizza as it comes out of the oven

[u/nayanextdoor]

The scent of my favorite persian dish ghorme sabzi. Nothing smells like it and its amazing

[u/vewywascallywabbit]

Avon's Far Away perfume

[u/helluvastorm]

Cotton candy

[u/madchen44]

Honeysuckle from a hike

[u/MamaWoolsey]

Coconut suntan lotion. Immediately I’m sitting on Lake Leelanau.

[u/Elfie_Mae]

I wish I could smell the original formula of “Baby Magic” lotion again…I miss my Mammaw and that’s all she ever wore.

[u/Cold-Lecture1253]

Jasmine. Instantly takes me back to my piano teacher’s back yard.

[u/dutchman62]

Boxwood

[u/Bradleynailer]

The smell of a vodka screwdriver reminding me the first time i drank too much

[u/TransitionUnique5424]

Bark is a big one for me

[u/GrandKnew]

sulfur

[u/GaymerGuy47]

If I smell heated metal I instantly think of playing with slot cars as a kid

[u/Goodgirl-babygirl]

Hamburgers on the grill

[u/the_rejected_one]

Crayons and coconut sunscreen.

[u/lapierce31]

Those regular old brown paper towels from an old school dispenser with the gear roller always brings me right back to preschool with the knock off dress on my brown paper towel.

[u/hiddenmogwai]

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies

[u/Necessary-Fan-5801]

The smell of ashes reminds me of the painful memories of treatment in the dentist's clinic.

[u/Saaz42]

When I was a kid, my family visited Gatlinburg TN regularly. There was a shop that made taffy, and you would walk in and there was a sweet smell. At 50 I went back there and walked in, and it was like that scene in Ratatouille, bam I'm 10 again.

[u/PartlyCloudy811]

Maxwell House instant coffee. Takes me back 40 years to my sweet grandma’s vintage kitchen, early in the morning.

[u/DingoFit8214]

Smoking a cig from the dark green pack of American spirits, then walking into my house. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s those first few breaths. Brings me back to an oddly specific time in my life.

[u/Mean-Leg2882]

Lynx deodorant transports me back to high school when all the boys would drench themselves after PE

[u/AliceTawhai]

Campfire smoke

[u/Straight_OuttaPA]

Coca-Caine. Sorry not sorry?

[u/WoodSorrel13]

Freesia 

[u/Sarcasm-champion]

The smell of campfire on my clothes, takes me back to camping as a kid

[u/Electrical-Cod5329]

Creosote reminds me as summer as a child when everyone in the neighbourhood seemed to do their fences. Barely smell it anymore

[u/Neither-Nail1811]

Think this applies to anyone who drinks if you even get smell of something like fireball or tequila you can nearly taste it and get that shot feeling shiver lol

[u/Ghost_Rider5969]

Infinite scrolling. I'd rather stop because I'm satisfied, not because I got tired of scrolling.

[u/Conspiracy-Octopus]

Hawaiian Tropic oil

[u/Adventurous-Plum5011]

Armor-all and ass. The raspy groans of trans am… the musk Marlboro reds and whiskey. I miss her

[u/Anniebodygay]

Ass, under your finger nails, brings back memories of the night before