What is the strangest thing that triggers intense nostalgia or emotion for you?

[Missohnoyoubetterdont]

Not the standard smell of cut grass or old perfume. I mean something completely specific and quirky. For me, it is the sound of wood pigeons calling on a warm summer’s evening , or the feeling when you get up really early and there’s that stillness and possibility hanging in the air , I think it’s the wonderful feeling of potential and reminds me of travelling in hot sunny climbs. Other weird one is the smell of hot water bottles! Reminds me of childhood. It gives me a profound, aching sort of homesickness for a time I can’t quite name. What is your weird emotional trigger?"

Ah, so many “joyous painful” memories here. I recently heard a tune on Classic FM and I was right back in Singjng Together at primary school. I loved those BBC Schools radio programmes. The accompanying booklet! I loved the History one and even the religious one on a Thursday - good (moral!) stories.

Knitted jumpers that look hand made.

Paxo stuffing reminds me of Sunday roasts in the 80s 😢

For me it is the sound of water at the beach. Just the waves coming in. I always adore it.
Music often does it as well. Takes you back in time.

I can 'smell' that smell in my head

Both those things for me too.
That feeling at the end of August when the weather shifts.
White glitter -Childhood Christmas cards.
The smell of some fabrics when ironed.

Plastercasters!!! Oh my God yes. You have completely brought back a childhood Christmas memory for me. I had a Fozzy Bear one.

Yesterday I saw on Instagram one of those ‘Child of the eighties” montages and it showed a picture of some lipstick shapes sweets that I had completely forgotten about too. The wave of nostalgia that came over me was so strong I could have cried. Over sweet lipsticks!!

Edited to add - or am I confusing Plastercasters with Shaker Makers?! I need to Google now!

I have a V05 hair gel spray. Takes me back to teenage every time I use it!

This post makes me think I’d so like you as a person OP. I really like what you’ve said as I can relate so much to these understated things too.

On a pre Christmas visit to a small Yorkshire Dales town, the smell of coal smoke from someone’s chimney. Took me right back to my very long ago childhood.

The sound of spiked sports shoes on concrete - takes me back to my dad playing cricket and the sound of the batter walking back to the changing room up the stairs when they were out. Instant nostalgia

Smell of freshly laid tarmac. It always takes me back to being a kid in the late 70s/80s and playing out in the summer holidays.

When I was very young there was a radio and TV programme called The Clitheroe Kid, starring Jimmy Clitheroe. He had a strong Lancashire accent and every time I hear that accent it takes me back to watching it at my grandparents' house and my dad giving me a piggyback up the hill on the way home. I'm 64 and it feels like yesterday.

Whenever I get a whiff of Olbas oil. My nan always kept a hanky with a dab of it on, in the pocket of her tabard. Transports me right back to being hugged by her as a child.

The smell of tarmac pavements when it rains always brings me back to my dad taking me to school.

Ice cream van chimes in the distance - especially Greensleeves

The smell of angelica and grace cherries and flour when my grandma opened her baking cupboard.

The smell of foil decorations when opening the decoration box, cold from the loft.

The smell of tomato plant on my fingers as it was my job to pinch out side shoots for dad.

Gone but not forgotten:

Walking past a pub on a freezing cold day and smelling warmth, beer and smoke

Leaded petrol fumes, creosote

Bristows hairspray (in a pink can) not even sure you can buy it now. Takes me right back to my school leavers dance. My 90s hairstyle was moving no where as I think the hairdresser used a full can of the stuff! Takes me right back to school happy days

And another one moth balls or smelling salts takes me back to my grandparents house in the 70s

There’s a very sweet, cloying scent that comes from a plant that grows in hedgerows. No idea what it is but there was one place it grew in my childhood garden and I am transported back to that place whenever I smell it now.

The certain cooking smell in some cafes that reminds me of the school dining hall.

Not a smell but the sensation of getting into a boiling hot car on a hot day. Reminds me of sitting in the car with a Britvic orange juice and a packet of crisps whilst Mum and Dad were in the pub with my grandparents!!

The smell of pink germoline cream reminds me of my gran she used it to sort everything from grazes to splinters, the cream always came out. Really lovely thread

Early childhood - large Victorian houses with red metal fire escapes on rainy days. Also a specific smell a bit like boiled sweets but not quite. 'The Sound of Silence'.

Student days - any very strong hairspray .

Honeysuckle

@Missohnoyoubetterdont I also get the hot water bottles. Takes me back to lining up in front of mum as she filled them, tea towel around the neck, then twisted the stopper and turned them upside down to see if it was sealed.