How Minnesota's Summer Scents Spark Nostalgic Memories

After a winter that packed more snow and cold weather than we've seen in a few years, the warm weather season is finally here in Minnesota. How do we know for sure? You can tell by the smells!

Living here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we're lucky in that we get to experience all four seasons Mother Nature has to offer, right? My wife and I just got back from spending a few days in southern California in San Diego, where the weather year-round is usually sunny and around 70 degrees. How boring is that?!?

Minnesota’s Long Winters Make Summer Even More Memorable

But here in the North Star State, we're knocking on the door of one of the best seasons of the year: summer. Sure, it's still technically spring (Time and Date says summer won't officially start in Minnesota until we hit the summer solstice, which officially happens this year at 3:24 am on Sunday, June 21st.) But there are some signs summer isn't too far away.

Why Certain Smells Trigger Summer Memories in Minnesota

And by signs, I actually mean smells. There are just some things that, when you smell them, you're instantly transported right back to a classic summer day at the pool or up north at the lake here in the Gopher State.

Why is that? Here's the science, according to the fragrance site, Corpus:

As a scent enters the nose, it is first processed by the olfactory bulb, part of the limbic system-- the emotional center of the brain. Within this emotional center, lives the amygdala, which plays a role in emotional memories and the hippocampus, which is critical to developing memories.

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When scents pass through this area of the brain, emotions, memory, and scent become intertwined. This is why smell, more than any other sense, is so successful at triggering emotions and memories, Corpus noted.

These Classic Minnesota Smells Mean Spring is Here and Summer Is Near

So, check out these 10 incredibly evocative smells that definitely take you right back to summer here in Minnesota:

Most Visited State Parks In Minnesota: Is Your Favorite in the List?

Minnesota has 75 beautiful state parks. The parks have an average of 9,700,000 visitors each year. Interestingly enough, nearly 19% of park visitors come from other states and countries, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Now, my favorite State Park is Jay Cooke in Carlton, MN, but it did not break into the top 5.

Gallery Credit: Shel B

Filed Under: Minnesota