Smells and coasters?

A recent advertisement on TV for a body spray got me to thinking. The advertisement said that memories are most tied to our sense of smell. In other words, smells, whether they be pleasant or not, evoke certain memories of past events in our lives. I certainly can attest to this because as a kid going to SFSTL, I will always remember the smell of axle grease in the transfer shed of the River King Mine Ride.My father was never a fan of coasters, but luckily my mother was, so I always rode with her.For me the smell brings back good memories for me because I will always remember that it was my mom who was always willing to go on the latest scream machine with me. I always remember the smell of freshly cut southern yellow pine on the Boss's media day in St. Louis. Perhaps that is why it is one of my favorite wooden coasters. For you, maybe it was a coaster that sat near one of the food stands in the park of the scent of a lake that the coaster was near. I would like to know of other's experiences.

Like you, I have a coaster/smell memory related to axle grease.

My first coaster was Big Thunder at Disneyland when I was 3 years old. The only thing I really remember was crying the whole way through, and the earthquake themed third lift hill.

But, it must've been the axle grease smell of the lift hill because after that ride, no matter where I was when I smelled that kind of smell, it made me think of the ride. I couldn't quite understand why that strange grease smell reminded me of BTMR.

When I finally got on a coaster again when I was 9, it was Big Thunder at Disney World's Magic Kingdom that finally made it clear to me why that type of smell always reminded me of that ride.

Now, whenever I smell that combination of axle grease and a metal chain whether on a coaster or something completely unrelated, it reminds me of going up the lift hill of both of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad coasters. Good smell, good memories! *** Edited 10/19/2004 7:20:01 AM UTC by go with gravity***

The smell of fried chicken reminds me of Ghostrider ;)

Cedar = Legend's tunnels. ;)

Whenever I have a current smell remind me of a memory I call it 'deja smell'. Anywho, coasterwise:

Space Mountain, and most of Disney's attraction have a similar smell, kind of like stale air, but not that it's bad. :)

And Splash Mountain has a certain distinct stale water smell... again, not that it's bad.

My vote for the best smelling roller coaster is Superdooperlooper (Hersheypark). It's is directly across the street from the factory and all you can smell is chocolate! (It was definitely worth three rides in the front seat.)

Another good smell is the tar on new or recently treated wood coasters. (I remember smelling the tar on Cedar Creek Mine Ride back in spring 2002.)

As soon as I read the title, I thought of Anton!

Monte, Viper (SFoG), Mindbender...those are the smells that memories are made of...

Mine rides also smell great (I too enjoy cresote heating up, LOL)...and woodies that, like Ghostie, use cedar for the station/queue areas...

...but NOTHING can touch the aroma of a warmed-up Schwarzkopf! :)

Wildwood gets the nod for amusement park smells. If the breeze is just right, all of the smells from the boardwalk drift onto the amusement piers! Pure sensory bliss!

Any wood coaster, freshly greased, is good in my book. That and the sound of the trains could easily put me to sleep.

TAR, I tell ya! It's that black tar smell that immediately reminds me of my first rides on the Dahlonega Mine Train at SFoG in 1969.

I know that sounds silly, but maybe someone out there in Coasterbuzz world will know what I mean.

Actually, the same smell seems to permeate the Carolina Goldrusher's station.

So, that's my smell. Black Tar & Mine Trains!

I'll agree with 'gator about Schwarzkopf. Greezed Lightnin' smells just like its name; it never smelled like a Tidal Wave. :)

I've always been really sensitive to the smell/memories connection, and I had a strong physical reminder of it in the summer of 2002 when I visited Indiana Beach for the first time since I was a kid. All over the park, different scents hit me and evoked so many memories that I actually got "verklempt". The gasoline-ish smell of the boats on the lake, the bumper cars (best smell in the world...I don't know why I can't find it at Yankee Candle), and THOSE TACOS which take me back to the original Superstition Mountain...you used to get a whiff of them somewhere during the course of the ride. I love that the skeleton who chats with you during the lift references them. :)

The smell of wet asphalt always makes me think of a morning at PKI. I love it.

The smell of concrete makes me think of CP and Dorney.

slightly oiled metal mixed w/ozone from over sparks reminds me of Dodgems. Takes me back to Euclid beach and conneaut lake.
The smell of oily hair reminds me of Serial Thriller 6flgs/GL... *** Edited 10/19/2004 3:27:25 PM UTC by FLYINGSCOOTER***

The smell of wet dog reminds me of Vekoma boomerangs. :-D

Sort of off-topic, but this is a great idea for those of you who vacation with your significant others:

Whenever my wife and I go on vacation, before we go, she buys a new scent of body products that she's never used before. Everything - new shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body spray, etc. She uses it constantly while we're on vacation.

The result is that now she can wear any one of numerous scents, and the smell immediately brings back memories of wherever we went. For example, "Cotton Blossom" smells like Gatlinburg to me, and "White Tea and Ginger" smells like a Caribbean cruise. And "Freesia" smells like our honeymoon... mmm.

Try it, you'll like it.

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greatwhitenorth said:
My vote for the best smelling roller coaster is Superdooperlooper (Hersheypark). It's is directly across the street from the factory and all you can smell is chocolate!

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Speaking of chocolate and Hershey...standing in line for Storm Runner this season, I was getting very very hungry...I was convinced that the new mulch they had put in smelled just like chocolate...was tempted to eat it. Did anyone else smell that this year?

I love the smell of napalm in the morning...

I don't notice the strongest memory smell for me much anymore. I think it was hydraulic fluid, I remember the smell hitting me when getting close to rides.

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boblogone said:

I think it was hydraulic fluid, I remember the smell hitting me when getting close to rides.

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You sure it was the smell hitting you, and not pieces of the frayed launch cable?? :)

Having worked as a Screamster at CP for two years in a row, that combo of latex and disinfectant always reminds me of CP during Halloweekends.

As long as we're talking smells, can anyone else not smell cotton candy? This has been an ongoing debate with my family since our last Kennywood day =) My Dad and I can't, my Mom and girlfriend insist cotton candy has a smell ... anyone?

The oiled wood of Cedar Creek Mine Ride.