The Power of Scents

May 30, 2025

Quote

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived."

Helen Keller

Facts

What’s in a scent? There is one very important component - survival.

Ancestors who could detect threats such as food gone bad and inedible plants were being supported by a helpful survival safety net.

It’s also a system that can navigate social bonds, trigger memories, experience pleasure and certain scents may even help your immune system!

Can we smell fear? An interesting study of skydivers found that people could detect fear - through scent.

“So it seemed that you could unconsciously detect the smell of fear from another person.

There was a behavioural effect of the fearful sweat. It improved the volunteers' awareness and vigilance. They became 43 per cent more accurate in judging if another person's face was neutral or threatening.”

For every scent detected, your brain may be querying, "Is this safe? Familiar? Worth remembering?"

Nature’s Benefits

Tree scents have been found to help reduce stress hormones and boost white blood cells, helping us boost our immune system, just from breathing in fresh forest air.

Phytoncides are the airborne chemicals trees release. They can work as anti-inflammatories that reduce oxidative stress, enhance sleep via alpha-pinene, reduce cortisol levels, and reduce blood glucose levels.

Tree Break 🌳 If you’re able to weave in a tree break, find the nearest cluster of trees, and breath in natures benefits.

Photo Credit: Jay Mantri Unsplash

Thoughts

What smells signals that your favourite season has arrived?

Are there certain smells that can lift your mood, that can energise and scents that can help calm?

Ok that’s all, for now!