In Diane Ackerman’s book A Natural History of the Senses, she begins the chapter by giving examples of smells that elicit memories from one’s past. While I believe that all the senses are capable of triggering nostalgia, for me at least, smell is the most potent when it triggers memories because smells are usually sprung onto us by surprise. Sometimes we go into our attics and look at old photos, or cook ourselves a dish that reminds us of our past. However, those are conscious, deliberate efforts to bring us back.
Smells are different. They sneak up on us; they are completely unexpected. Perhaps a woman on the subway is wearing the same perfume as your grandma. Or maybe you’re walking past a bakery and the smells that waft out transport you back to a European vacation you took years ago.
For me, countries have very specific smells that conjure up memories from my past. It’s comforting. In Seoul, you are bombarded with smells of street foods such as roasted chestnuts, popcorn, and candy. Sometimes you can eat a small noodle bar down an alleyway, hidden almost like its location should be a secret, or maybe you would just like some coffee (cafés are abundant in Seoul). When you walk through the streets of Seoul, your nose and appetite are the only guides you'll need.
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