By: Lauren Napierkowski
If you’re a student at university, you know that hell week has been quickly approaching, and after a whole semester of work it’s already here: finals week. Every study room at the library is booked, people are neck-deep in their notes, and highlighters are scattered like red solo cups from last Friday’s party. You’re burning the midnight oil (and maybe that lavender candle that your roommate swears by) when it hits you - what if this scent could be your secret weapon? What if just like certain smells trigger happy childhood memories, they can also be used for our studying? Spoiler alert: science says it just might be.
Smell is the underrated main character of our senses, constantly lurking in the background of our daily lives. But here’s the 411: our sense of smell is directly connected to the brain’s memory bank - the hippocampus. Studies show that specific scents, when paired with learning, can turn basic recall into memories at the forefront of our mind.
Take this gem from Michigan State University, which confirms that our brain’s wiring makes smells powerful triggers for memories. Remember how the warm and cozy body spray from PINK by Victoria’s Secret transports you back to an awkward middle-school dance? Same concept - only now, it’s flashcards and formulas instead of embarrassing anecdotes.
BBC digs deeper, suggesting that our senses can be “hacked” to boost learning. Pair a unique scent with study sessions - think peppermint, rosemary, or even something left field like coffee beans - and your brain starts associating that smell with the material. Reintroduce the same scent later (like before an exam), and boom, your brain gets a cheat code to better recall.
And last but not least, NPR is here to level up the convo even further! Exposure to scents while sleeping can also reinforce what you learned while awake. Yep, that’s right - spritz some lavender or eucalyptus before bed, and your dreams might just turn into a memory-boosting lane. Now, you may be asking how one would turn this science into something that can actually be put into action? First, you have to ditch the basic vanilla vibes. Find a scent unique to you - whether it’s earthy notes of sandalwood or a zesty punch of citrus. Bath and body Works always has a great BOGO to make one of them your study signature. Then, be consistent. Smells are like your toxic situationship; they don’t let you forget.
So, the next time you’re cramming, remember: scents aren’t just aesthetic, they’re the secret ingredient to leveling up your study game. Because if you’re going to ace that exam, you might as well make it smell like success.
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