We think, we smell, we remember: The effect of smell on memory for chemistry lab learning

The traditional five senses are the primary receptors of external stimuli for the brain. While tactile learning and visual observations are integral to the chemistry laboratory, olfaction is a sense that should be considered part of an educator's repertoire. Previous studies have discovered that our sense of smell plays a significant role in triggering memories. Moreover, specific scents like vanillin can prompt anamneses to recall previous experiences. A sample of 61 college students was employed for a three-week pretest-posttest control group experimental design. In the first week, participants conducted a chemical reaction to synthesize isoamyl acetate, the familiar and nontoxic scent of bananas. Over two additional weeks, participants in the treatment group were exposed to the same banana smell, while those in the control group were not. Both groups took an identical pre- and post-test designed to measure procedural recall. T-test analyses showed a statistically significant impact (at the p < 0.05 level) of smell on the recollection of simple procedural memory. Although this study compared groups using a simple procedure, research has yet to evaluate the significance of smell in complex experimentation. Ideally, the findings of this study may inspire the development of innovative pedagogical strategies infused with the commonly overlooked sense of smell.