The Influence of Scents on Memory Experiences: A Phenomenological Analysis of High School Students' Olfactory-Memory Perceptions

Abstract

This research aims to conduct an in-depth examination of the multidimensional relationship between the sense of smell and memory, based on individuals' experiences. The research is designed using a phenomenological model, a qualitative research design. The study group consists of 10 volunteer students from the 9th and 10th grades of a high school in Kayseri province. Participants were determined using purposive sampling, ensuring a balanced distribution across grade levels (five 9th graders, five 10th graders). A semi-structured interview form, developed by the researcher and consisting of 6 open-ended questions, was used as the data collection tool. Interviews were conducted in a quiet room at the school, lasting approximately 15-20 minutes, recorded with the participants' consent, and subsequently transcribed. The obtained data were analyzed using the content analysis method, and inter-coder agreement was calculated using Cohen's Kappa coefficient.

Research findings indicate that the vast majority of participants (80%) find memories triggered by odors to be more emotional, more vivid, clearer,  and more permanent compared to memories triggered by other sensory stimuli such as photographs or songs. Eighty percent of the participants stated that they have odors with special personal meaning; these odors were particularly associated with childhood, family ties, summer vacations, and significant life events. Involuntary recall experiences (the Proust Phenomenon) were reported by 90% of the participants; the emotions experienced during these events were found to range across a wide spectrum from peace and security to regret and resentment. It was determined that the cultural environment shapes the odor-memory relationship, but no clear conclusion could be reached regarding the effect of age. Furthermore, it was observed that there is generally a positive relationship between the frequency of exposure to odors and sensitivity, and the frequency of memory experiences,  although this relationship is not linear. All participants agreed that there is a strong, direct, and multifaceted relationship between odor and memory.

The research results reveal that odor-triggered memories phenomenologically differ from memories triggered by other senses, and this differentiation has neurological, emotional, personal, and environmental dimensions. The findings are consistent with neuroimaging studies in the literature and support the validity of the odor-memory relationship for this age group, which has been less studied in the existing literature.

Keywords: Sense of smell, memory, autobiographical memory