The Definitive Ranking Of Smells That Remind You Of Childhood

Scent is closely linked with memory...so get ready for some smells you thought you'd forgotten. Bring on the feels while bringing back awesome with Froot Loops®.

23. Inflatable Play Places

https://www.flickr.com/photos/valkyrieh116/3301819066/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adactio/2917093994

They were so fun that the lingering smell of socks and old ropes was easy to ignore.

22. Hot School Lunch

http://U.S. Department of Agriculture (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: usdagov

Even though you can now appreciate real cuisine, admit it — the smell made you hungry back in the day.

21. Pencil Shavings

Craig Veltri / Getty Images

Those teeny-tiny clippings from electric pencil sharpeners (good) or hand-cranked metal ones (bad) sure did punctuate the smell of the first day of school.

20. School Bus Seats

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How one recalls this scent may be directly related to how much one enjoyed the experience of riding the school bus.

19. Finger Paints

Bonita Cooke / Getty Images

Bob Ingelhart / Getty Images

Smelled like uninhibited artistic expression brought on by the childhood abandonment of societal norms of taste and culture.

18. Thermal Lunchboxes

Joe Hall (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: joebeone

Lunch was sure to be a jackpot when you opened this baby up! After the food was gone, the distinct smell was like second dessert.

17. Bouncing Balls

Frankieleon (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: armydre2008

Grabbing a fresh new bouncing ball out of the quarter machine smelled like victory.

16. Petting Zoos

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So bad it was good? The aroma of adorable animals and their hay- and wood shaving-lined pens was one you "got used to" in no time!

15. Plastic Dolls and Their Plastic Accessories

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Shoutout to new doll hair for also having an iconic smell.

14. A Cardboard Box

z287marc (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: z287marc

Smells like a boat. Or a rocket ship. Or a secret hiding spot. Or a...

13. Colorful Pencil Erasers

Diveofficer (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: diveofficer

Smelled like showing off how cool you were, huh?

12. Rubber-coated Playground Equipment

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The scent of pre-calloused hands grasping old rubber was as poignant as the adrenaline rush.

11. The Giant Rainbow Parachute

Corey Hochachka / Getty Images

Being under a majestic and awe-inspiring rainbow parachute on the best day of gym class ever simply smelled like togetherness. And lots of nylon fabric.

10. Bubbles

D Coetzee (CC0 http://1.0) / Via Flickr: dcoetzee

Tiny motorized bubble machines, the flimsy wands dipped in the soap, the plastic bottles... All of it smelled kinda weird but definitely cool.

9. Sidewalk Chalk

Steven Depolo (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: stevendepolo

Powdery and rich, yet subtly soothing.

8. Playing Dough

Miss Messie (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: 97335141@N00

It could turn into anything you wanted, but that smell could never change. Thank goodness.

7. A VHS Tape Fresh out of the Player

Comedy_nose (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: comedynose

Nothing like the smell of a warm VHS tape being put back into its new, uncrushed plastic box booklet.

6. Old Crayons

Randen Pederson (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: chefranden

The scent of old crayons — some with their paper peeling and some snapped right in half (sometimes in a metal tin, sometimes in the original box) — inspired creativity.

5. Animal Crackers

Jay Malone (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: jcorduroy

Smells like snack time, everybody!

4. Pools and Pool Stuff

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Atid Kiattisaksiri / Getty Images

Chlorine isn't supposed to smell good, but admit it: It smells nice.

3. A Pile of Leaves

Michael Bentley (CC BY http://2.0) / Via Flickr: donhomer

Were they wet? Were there potentially bugs in there? Didn't matter, had fun.

2. The School Library

Mia & Steve Mestdagh (CC BY-SA http://2.0) / Via Flickr: s_mestdagh

This magical, carpeted room was filled with old paperback novels, plastic-sealed hardcover storybooks, musty encyclopedias...all smelled different and yet similarly delicious.

1. Your Special Bedtime Companion

S.MASH / (CC BY http://2.0) / https://www.flickr.com/photos/shelbzyleigh/4854352007

Caitlin Regan (CC BY http://2.0) / https://www.flickr.com/photos/caitlinator/5311931975

If you had one, its scent was sure to make you feel safe and sound.

Another smell that'll bring you back? Picture opening a fresh box of Froot Loops®. Bam — you're there.