Final answer:
The scent Esteban smelled is an example of sensory memory, which are brief and fleeting, but in this case, it also interacted with long-term memory by evoking an emotional response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scent Esteban smelled in a crowded shopping mall that triggered memories of his grandmother is described in the context of memory as sensory memory. Sensory memory refers to the storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes. This kind of memory is very fleeting, often lasting just a couple of seconds unless it is deemed valuable and is then transferred to short-term memory. However, the scent can also be closely tied to long-term memory because of its ability to evoke a powerful emotional response due to the brain's processing of olfactory information, which is often directly connected to memory and emotion without the intermediary step of synapsing in the thalamus. In Esteban's case, the flowery scent bypassed short-term storage and tapped directly into his long-term memories, bringing up emotions and recollections associated with his grandmother.