Smell and memory are so closely intertwined.
So Redditoru/chrisrvatxasked, “What’s your’smells like home' meal?”.
Here’s what people said, including some members of theBuzzFeed Community.

“I remember the smell of my dad’s tomato sauce with meatballs on Sundays.
“Bacon and coffee.
Most of their extended family did family reunions of a sort.

I never could figure out how she made them without me seeing it happen.
And gravy, I almost forgot, a large ceramic gravy boat full of peppered cream gravy.
Bacon and coffee and, darn it, those onions she’s cutting up are now blurring my vision.

RIP, grandma.”
u/mildOrWILD65
3.
“I’m fromHawaii, so Spam-anything is my comfort food.

I eat it a few times a week.
“Fried bologna sandwich on white bread.
Its trash, but my dad made the best version of this meal.

Hes been gone since 1992, but it always brings him back to me.”
McMema
5.
“Toasted and warm pita with labneh and olive oil.

Tastes like home.”
“When the sofrito hits the oil, followed by the packet of Sazon.
Whatever I’m making, the base smells like home and like my mom.”

u/The_AmyrlinSeat
7.
I smell it and feel like I’m eight years old again.”
u/smileechick2828
9.

I can still smell it sometimes and she’s been gone for 22 years.”
Or her Cajun dirty rice with red beans and sausage.
The smell of Tony’s and garlic…it takes me right back to childhood and happier times."

u/ItsASecret26
11.“Borscht.
Once the dill goes in, I’m back in my grandparents' kitchen.”
“Just simple onions and garlic cooking in olive oil, the basis of all Italian-American food.”

u/kalily53
13.
“Southern cornbread dressing baking makes me think of my mom staying up all night cooking holiday dinners.”
u/Majestic_Explorer_67
15.

“I made my mom’s spaghetti sauce tonight.
Coming home as an adult to that distinctive cinnamon chocolate smell is the definition of family and love.”
u/lukieinthesky82
17.
Warm bread and butter with a couple of scoops of beans…we all knew we were home.
Food was one of mom’slove languages, and we really benefited from that!"
u/Rhino_xB
19.“Albondigas.
It’s a Mexican soup with meatballs and veggies.
My grandma lived with us when I was growing up and would make it almost every rainy day.
The smell of the broth would go throughout the house.
It was always incredibly cozy and warm to those cloudy days.”
Growing up in upstateNew York, apples were a staple in my house.
u/hopiesoapy
21.
“The Filipino trinity: oil, garlic, onion, and ginger.
And usually backed by the smell of some fish or seafood.”
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.