Using you senses in dreams

Sorry, this is my first thread and I have already made a mistake in posting!

I would like to discuss being able to use your other senses, such as smell and taste in dreams.

A few nights ago I had something very strange happen to me in my dream. I cant remember anything about the actual dream story but I clearly remember being able to smell mens aftershave. In my dream I was shocked to find I could smell this, and said so to myself whilst dreaming.

I woke up shortly after, and this experience was still very clear and fresh in my mind. I could still remember the actuall aftershave smell, though I am unable to recall it now.

There was no external sourcel to influence my dream. A few hours earlier I had been kicked out of my bed by my young son! He was in my bed with his dad, and I was in his bed in his bedroom where nothing that smells like aftershave can be found.

I am also very surprised by this dream as I have never been able to control or influence my dreams. I just only ever watch my dreams like watching telly.

So my question is has anyone else been able to actually smell or taste whilst dreaming? Especially to an extent where you can really sense it?

reply to post by afraidofthedark


Years ago when I was training for a figure competition and was on a very strict diet, I remember dreaming about bread and smelling the fresh-baked bread. That is the only time I can think of, offhand. I do sometimes feel things, like one time when I was being chased and was stuck through the stomach with a sword I remember it felt cold.

reply to post by gwynnhwyfar


Thanks for your reply.

It sounds like you were really craving some good, homemade bread!

Do you think it could be stressfull or emotional situations that heighten our senses, and this can manifest itself in dreams?
At the moment I am thinking about my deceased father, so I am thinking he may have something to do with my dream, if only I could remember its content. Being male aftershave I smelt I am thinking and hoping it is his.

I've always been able to touch, taste, smell, hear, see and feel things in dreams. It wasn't until I got to ATS and read the Dreams section of the forum that I realised that apparently that's highly unusual and shouldn't happen or something.

2nd in case I need it

reply to post by afraidofthedark


Oh, you should have mentioned that! I'm a strong believer that we get "visits" in our dreams from those who have passed, from time to time. My guess is that you got a visit from your Dad, while dreaming, and smelling the aftershave was something out-of-the-ordinary enough to make sure you remembered it.

People who have quit smoking often have dreams about smoking. Usually, they can taste it and smell it....and wake up wondering why they were smoking in the dream....like an "oh no!" If you haven't smoked....it's tough to quit and the secret is to never start again., so it's horrifying to find yourself smoking....even in a dream.

I've dreamed of eating stuff that I was craving and it was delicious.

Those aren't real frequent experiences for me.

Wow, it does sound that it is rare to smell in dreams for the majority of people.

I didnt want to connect the dream with my Dad straight away, as I said I havent a clue what the dream was about.
I do hope I can remember the dream, I would hate to have missed a dream about my Dad.

reply to post by RainbeauBleu


It does sound like these types of dreams happen when you are craving something badly, such as a cigarette or a certain food.

Thanks for your imput

reply to post by afraidofthedark


I don't think we actually use our senses in dreams, more or less your mind remembered the fragrance of that smell, so in your dream you "smelt" aftershave, though I have had a dream where I ate at a buffet of exotic foods and though never tasted any of the food in real life, could taste the different flavors.

reply to post by curious7


Does being able to use all your senses in dreams make them more real?

It sounds like your dreams are really more exciting than mine, I would love to be able to smell and taste in all my dreams too. I would love to dream about eating, how good does that sound, tasting and smelling your favourite food!

Thanks for your imput

reply to post by Nobama


I dont know how you are able to sense in dreams, as you said it could just be in the mind.

It was the fact that I actually smelt the aftershave in my dream, and as I woke up I could still remember smelling it. Just as you can still smell something after you have moved away from the source of the smell.

I just thought this incident was exciting as this has never happened to me before or anyone else I mentioned it to.

Thank you for your imput Nobama

reply to post by afraidofthedark


I wouldn't worry that you dreamed of a long heartfelt discussion, and then forgot it, or anything like that (although anything's possible). In my experience it is short and sweet when it happens, very brief encounters. I had one where I became aware that I was looking at my friend who had recently passed and somehow I knew he couldn't actually speak to me, but it was ok because we made eye contact and I just knew that he had dropped in to see me. It was such a surprise that it only lasted a second because it jolted me into a lucid state when I saw him, as I realized he couldn't be there as he had passed, and so I must be dreaming, and of course that woke me up. For you, it might be that the smell of the mens' aftershave is your clue. It's usually something small but memorable, such that you are able to retain that "aha!" when you wake up. So if it did have something to do with your Dad, it's a very nice reminder.

reply to post by gwynnhwyfar


I think you are right, this dream was a message from my Dad and that is how I am going to interpretate it. Hopefully I will remember what it was all about, though as you said the important thing is he is making contact with me.

I hope he comes back in another dream and that I will be able to remember it.

I have really appreciated your time and imput, thank you gwynnhwyfar

well dreams supposedly take us to the 4th dimension, this been true anything becomes possible, its just knowing how to unlock this in our minds. i have only ever had one lucid dream in my life and it was when i was younger. i believe its all about freeing the mind and letting yourself become open to such things. death of a loved one can create all kinds of emotion and power in the mind. my mam once thought she could smell (not see) just smell bacon cooking in her sleep (my recently deceased, at the time, grandad loved bacon and would always cook it on the hob. she was that convinced after waking she had to check the kitchen. she believed my grandad was there in spirit.

Originally posted by curious7
I've always been able to touch, taste, smell, hear, see and feel things in dreams. It wasn't until I got to ATS and read the Dreams section of the forum that I realised that apparently that's highly unusual and shouldn't happen or something.

2nd in case I need it

Same here. I smell, taste feel, and hear things all the time. I wonder what makes us different? I also am what I call a natural lucid dreamer. I thought every one could control their dream with out effort or having to learn how.

Originally posted by afraidofthedark
reply to post by curious7

 

Does being able to use all your senses in dreams make them more real?

It sounds like your dreams are really more exciting than mine, I would love to be able to smell and taste in all my dreams too. I would love to dream about eating, how good does that sound, tasting and smelling your favourite food!

Thanks for your imput

Oh definitely, sometimes I have a hard time when I wake up realising that it was just a dream and never actually happened but it's pretty awesome. I've never actually flown in dreams either except on planes so I guess that's also why it's so unusual for me for those two reasons.

reply to post by Cowler


Hi Cowler

I wonder how often a dream about a deceaced loved one will have a smell that was associated with that person in it, such as you mams bacon smell and hopefully my Dads aftershave scent?

Do you think that it is your mind that produces the smell or maybe some influence by the loved one you are dreaming about?

As stated before in this thread, maybe the 'wow' of being able to smell in a particular dream will help to make that dream more memorable.

reply to post by calstorm


There must be some connection between being able to lucid dream and being able to touch, taste and smell in your dreams.

I wonder if everybody who lucid dreams has the ability to use these senses in their dreams?

What gives someone the ability to lucid dream?

What do you think calstorm?

Originally posted by Nobama
reply to post by afraidofthedark

 

I don't think we actually use our senses in dreams, more or less your mind remembered the fragrance of that smell, so in your dream you "smelt" aftershave, though I have had a dream where I ate at a buffet of exotic foods and though never tasted any of the food in real life, could taste the different flavors.

edit on 2-8-2011 by Nobama because: (no reason given)

i don't know i had a dream one time where is was shot in the back and it hurt like hell. i had no problems with my back and when i woke up from the dream my back did not hurt , so i think you do use your senses in your dream, especially if you can Lucid dream