Those in-the-know claim that the sense of smell, the brain, and the memory are linked. It has likely happened to all of us: you were walking down the street and suddenly were overcome by a certain aroma. Without thinking about it, scenes from our childhood spring to mind. The scent can sometimes be difficult to distinguish — like the smell of summer, for example, or more precisely, of linen, coffee, and wet earth.

Scientists and neurologists who investigate this connection have explained to us what this unexpected memory is all about. Though it may seem like some kind of magic, it actually isn’t. It has a scientific explanation — our brain’s anatomy links our sense of smell, our mood, and our emotions.

Why Rain and Wet Soil Smell So Good