Scent In The Ayers

A Scentimental Journey

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Lilo and Stitch is Not Just a Kids’ Animated Movie

If you’re living your golden years, you may not be familiar with Disney’s Lilo and Stitch; or know that it is not just a kids’ animated movie.

what is lilo and stitch about

To date, there have been seven Lilo and Stitch movies and three separate series.  So what’s all the hubbub? Why are so many so enamored with these two?

I asked Grok to summarize why this series tugs at heartstrings.  The result:

Lilo & Stitch (2002) is an emotionally rich animated film that explores themes of loneliness, family, and belonging. Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl, feels isolated after losing her parents and struggles to fit in, grappling with grief and a sense of being different.

Stitch, a chaotic alien experiment designed for destruction, is also an outcast, searching for purpose after escaping his creators. Their unlikely bond forms the heart of the story, as they find solace in each other, learning to heal through love and acceptance.

The film emphasizes the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana, meaning family, highlighting that family is defined by care and connection, not just blood. Moments of humor, heartbreak, and tenderness—especially in Lilo’s efforts to connect with her sister Nani and Stitch’s transformation from chaos to loyalty—create a poignant narrative about finding your place in the world.

Now you can see why Lilo and Stitch is not just a kids’ animated movie. Grab some popcorn, head over to one of your streaming platforms and enjoy.  Then head over to IncomeWax.com to pick out some Lilo and Stitch scented swag.

Lilacs and Violets Stole My Heart: A Blooming Love Affair

Picture this: late spring at our house, where the air practically danced with the sugary, punch-you-in-the-nose scent of lilac bushes. Those purple poofs lined our backyard like a royal guard, swaying in the breeze and tickling the chipped, rainbow mural Mom had painted onto our old garage with all the gusto of a 1970s art rebel.

As a kid, I’d channel my inner forest fairy, snapping off a lilac sprig to tuck behind my ear, instantly transforming into Princess Lilac of Backyardia. Mom? She was totally cool with my flower-snatching shenanigans. She got it—those blooms were like nature’s perfume, and we were both obsessed. At night, with the windows cracked open, that lilac scent would sneak into my room, wrapping me in memories of barefoot grass-dancing, firefly-chasing evenings, and Mom’s classic “dinner’s ready!” holler—yep, the original 1970s text message, delivered at max volume.

Now, Babcia’s house? That was a whole different kind of magic. Her place was a cozy, hug-shaped cottage, where the air felt like warm cocoa. Her kitchen windowsill was a jungle of African violets, their velvety purple petals practically begging for a tiny pat. Babcia would hand me her enchanted watering can (okay, it was just tin, but work with me), guiding my hands with her arthritic ones. “Violets are delicate, like fairy wings,” she’d whisper, her voice as soft as a lullaby. I’d pour just enough water, feeling like I’d cracked the code to some ancient plant-whisperer spell.

lilacs and african violets purple flowers

Fast forward, and Mom’s gone, the lilacs are history, and the house belongs to someone else. But when I close my eyes? BAM—that lilac scent teleports me back to my princess days, twirling in the yard. Babcia’s violets, though? They’re still kicking it, thriving in a perky little pot by my bay window, their dainty blooms winking at me like they know all my secrets. Lilacs and violets aren’t just plants—they’re like magical portals, zapping me back to those wild, love-filled days with the women who made me, well, me.

Lilacs and Violets truly did steal my heart. Now you know my blooming love affair.

Postscript: Every Mother’s Day my adult daughter finds someone who has a lilac bush so that she can snip me off a bouquet. It’s a tradition. Because the lilac season is so brief, I can still enjoy their scent year round with fabulous lilacs and violets candles, room spray, and air fresheners.

Why Scents Trigger Memories

Non-Sciencey Explanation Why Scents Trigger Memories

Certain scents trigger memories because your nose is like a VIP with a backstage pass to your brain. When you sniff something, the smell hits your olfactory bulb, okay wait, that’s a little sciencey. The olfactory bulb is just the part of your brain involved in smelling scents.

Anyhoo, this part is super tight with the amygdala and hippocampus, the brain’s emotion and memory squad. Unlike stuff you see or hear, scents don’t get stuck in traffic; they zoom straight to these areas, making strong connections.

It’s called the Proust effect, okay wait, technically that’s more academic-y, and not sciencey, so we’re still on target. It’s more of a phenomenon, and it’s legit because our brains evolved to tie smells to survival, like remembering what’s safe or dangerous. Like, ooh, that smells like natural gas, and I should not fire up this incense cone right now or, y’know, kaboom. Or maybe you smell the kind of gas from someone’s dupa and definitely do want to light a candle.

Why scents trigger memories

This is why the smell of your babcia’s cookies or some old cologne can hit you like a time machine, pulling up vivid feels and moments. My mom died almost a half century ago, and yet anytime I smell Estee Lauder perfume, I instantly think of her, like she’s standing right next to me. I bet some of you think of pimpley face, awkward junior high days if you smell Love’s Baby Soft body spray? Or Musk oil, same same.

Nifty, huh?