Making your Disney Memories Last Longer (Using Science!)
You just dropped most of your savings account into a Disney vacation which you know will feel like it's over in a flash. How do you make the most of the memories you make there and keep them fresh for as long as possible?
In this post, I'm going to share one of my favorite vacation/special event tips. I can't take full credit for the tip. I believe it started with my mom who noticed that when a hotel used a certain brand of product and you got that product later, it brought back very strong memories of your vacation.
Scientific evidence supports that the sense of smell is a strong trigger for memories. Turns out your olfactory bulb is right next to your amygdala and hippocampus, which are brain regions that handle memory and emotion. Certain smells will trigger memories more strongly than will your sense of sight or hearing.
Think about it. What does Main Street USA smell like? Popcorn and waffle cones. What does Spaceship Earth smell like? Rome burning. There's a whole market around recreating these smells from candles to car fresheners.
But I prefer body products - scented oils, perfumes, lotions, soaps, shampoos, etc. - because these scents will stay with you throughout the day and help you remember your whole vacation, not just one attraction. My tip is...
Every time you go on a vacation, select a unique personal scent to wear while vacationing
Once you've selected your scent, wear it on vacation (and only on vacation). When you return, it's likely that whenever you smell that scent, you'll be taken to a strong memory of your vacation.
Here are some of the scents I've used that trigger memories of vacations:
Demeter Ocean: I wore this in Charleston, SC, for our vacation around the total eclipse. When I smell it now, it takes me back to the beach on Isle of Palms, Magnolia Plantation, or the deck of the aircraft carrier in the harbor there.
Bath and BodyWorks Lemongrass Sage (no link, discontinued scent): I wore this several years ago on a graduation celebration trip to Disney when we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. This scent takes me right to the Mara or the bus stop outside Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Demeter Saguaro: I wore this on an Arizona trip. It's such a unique scent that the memory associated with it is very strong. It takes me to the deck of the El Tovar lounge overlooking the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Bath and BodyWorks Beach: I wore this on my last vacation to Walt Disney World where we stayed at the Polynesian. The other day I put some on and my daughter said "Mom, why do you smell like Disney?"
H20 Sea Marine: This is the product used on the Disney Cruise Line and you can purchase it where H20 products are sold. This takes me to our veranda cabin, watching the ocean go by.
Some considerations when selecting your vacation scent...
1) Have you used it anywhere else?
The less you've used a scent while not on vacation, the more uniquely it will trigger memories of only your vacation.
2) Does it come in travel size?
Obvious consideration since you're going to need to get it with you on vacation. It's helpful if the scent comes in lots of different forms (lotion, roll on, spray, shower gel, etc) all in travel size. But it's not a deal breaker if you can only find one product in travel size in that scent.
Consider also that if it doesn't come in travel size (Demeter lotions for example typically come in a huge bottle), you can put it into your own travel sized container.
3) Can you try the scent first?
Walk into any Bath and Bodyworks store and you can sample every scent. For ordering online, Demeter Fragrance library will send you trial sizes of scents you select for a small cost compared to full size products. This is similarly the case with Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, which is one of my favorite scented oil companies.
4) Will it be discontinued?
This is one downside with Bath and Body Works, for example. Some of their scents have a sales life of only a few years and then you're left with dwindling supplies available only on ebay or at the semi-annual sale. Other companies have more lasting products. Demeter, for example, has had one scent I am particularly fond of for 20 years now. L'Occitane similarly offers scents with longevity.
If you are really concerned about not being able to get the scent in the future, consider essential oils which are almost always available from many companies.
5) Is it overpowering?
The idea is to help you remember your vacation, not to knock over all of your fellow travelers. Be considerate of how much scent you apply and whether others might be annoyed by it.
One good way to wear an oil or spray is in a necklace made specifically for scented oils. That way, you can bring it to your nose when you want to, but others don't always have to be overwhelmed by it.
6) Is it lasting?
If your scent is going to fade within minutes of applyig it, you're only going to remember your resort room and maybe the bus stop. I speak from experience. I find Demeter and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab scents are very lasting.
7) Am I going to remember to apply it throughout the day?
See above. If your scent doesn't last on its own, will you be able to take it with you and put it on throughout the day so you can form some lasting memories of more than just your mornings?
As I write this, I am in the process of deciding my scent for my next vacation, to the United Kingdom! I've never been, so I'm so very excited. This is what my selection process looks like:
I've ordered a sampling of scents from Demeter this time. I am wearing one each day to determine if I like it and how it lasts. When I decide on a scent I love, I will order more product like lotions and roll on perfume from them.
The process of testing your possible scent candidates is the perfect way to anticipate an upcoming vacation.
