Why do some smells make us feel comforted while others make us gag? The answer lies in the emotional wiring of our brains.
Unlike other senses, smell is directly connected to the brain’s memory and emotion centers. That’s why the scent of fresh cookies might remind you of childhood, while another smell brings back a bad experience.
Some researchers believe our scent preferences start before we’re even born, influenced by what our mothers ate during pregnancy. And then there’s the weird part—studies suggest that we tend to like the natural scent of people who have different immune system genes than us, which could be nature’s way of guiding us toward genetically diverse partners.
Next time you love (or hate) a smell, remember: your brain might be trying to tell you something!
