In college I would not read the book and just go to class to listen to what the prof said. I virtually never wrote anything down. But I would listen for the big picture. If I could tell by the prof's voice that this was an important detail I might scrounge around for a pen and write it down because I'm not good with details. Usually, though, I never had to look at my notes. Once I heard it, it was in there permanently if it was a concept.
Interesting. You just totally described me in college. I remember that I began diligently writing notes, because that's what everyone else did. But I never looked at them. I finally quit taking notes and just listened, then I could remember it all. But since I went to a college where attendance wasn't mandatory, I didn't do as well as I could have! I actually chose a law school based on the fact that it had a mandatory attendance policy, so I would get my money's worth and be forced to learn it by hearing it.
However, I am also quite visual - when I took tests and didn't quite remember something, I would picture the material in the textbook.
About the olfactory sensing - i have to share DS4's comment today. Since we live in the frigid north, today's 40 degree temps were like spring to us. He said, "it smells like spring out here. Wait, no, it smells just like ___ Park." This is a park out of town that we went to a year ago after a rain. Love those nose memories!
