The most vivid and emotional memories are tied to our sense of smell.
What senses are associated with memory?
According to scientific estimates, we can recall up to 35% of what we smell but only 5% of what we see. This is so because the area of our brain that retains memories, the hippocampus, is most strongly linked to our sense of smell.
The brain's temporal lobe has an almond-shaped structure called the amygdala, which gives memories emotional significance. Strong emotional memories, such as those connected to guilt, joy, love, or loss, are particularly difficult to forget, which makes this crucial.