When people think about summer, they often picture sunshine, swimming pools, vacations and backyard cookouts. But have you ever stopped to think about what summer smells like?

For many older adults, the scents of summer can bring back memories more quickly than a photograph. A familiar smell has a unique way of transporting us to another time and place.

One whiff of fresh-cut grass or charcoal from a backyard grill can suddenly bring back memories of childhood, family gatherings and care-free summer days.

One of the most recognizable smells of summer is freshly cut grass. Many people remember spending warm afternoons playing outside while a parent or neighbor mowed the lawn.

The smell often meant school was out, chores were finished and there was plenty of daylight left for adventure.

Another classic summer scent is sunscreen. Whether it was a trip to the beach, a community swimming pool or a family picnic by a lake, the smell of sunscreen became part of the experience.

Today, that familiar scent can still remind people of vacations, laughter and time spent outdoors with loved ones.

For others, summer smells like food. The aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs cooking on a grill often signals family reunions, holiday celebrations and neighborhood gatherings.

Watermelon, sweet corn, homemade ice cream and freshly baked pies are also foods that many people associate with warm summer evenings and special family traditions.

Rain has its own summer scent as well. Many people remember the smell that rises from the pavement just before or after a summer thunderstorm. Some recall sitting on a covered porch watching the rain fall while listening to thunder rumble in the distance. These moments often created a sense of peace and comfort.

Gardens also contribute to the scent of summer.

Flowers such as roses, lilacs and peonies fill the air with fragrance. Vegetable gardens produce the earthy smells of tomatoes, cucumbers and freshly turned soil.

For many families, tending a garden was both a necessity and a source of pride.

Even simple smells can tell a story. The scent of a baseball glove, a fishing dock, a campfire or an ice cream cone melting in the sun may seem ordinary, but they often hold extraordinary memories.

As we move through another summer season, it can be enjoyable to pause and think about the scents that have shaped our lives.

What smell reminds you most of summer? Is it fresh-cut grass, a backyard barbecue, a summer rainstorm or something entirely different?

Sometimes the smallest scents carry the biggest memories.

And perhaps that is one of summer’s greatest gifts, the ability to bring yesterday’s happiest moments back to life with a single breath.