What scents trigger childhood memories for you?

Neuroscientists think they've pinpointed particular cells that reside in the brain's olfactory bulb (its smell center) that are primed to capture scents from childhood. What particular smells bring back your memories from childhood? What is the earliest "smell" memory you have?

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Jul 30, 2026, 4:13 PM

One of the earliest smells I recall fondly is that of sharpened pencils. The smell in the air just before it rains. Gasoline. The smell of disinfectants in a doctor's office. Hamburgers on an outdoor grill. Lilacs.