The Biologist 0009- FINDING CALM AMID THE CRAZY

Welcome to THE BIOLOGIST, your weekly dose of inspiration at the intersection of fragrance and culture.

In our perpetually connected and seemingly volatile world, finding moments of tranquility has become both more challenging and more essential. Scent offers a unique pathway to presence – a direct line to our limbic system that can bypass the cognitive chaos and return us to center when the world feels overwhelming.

FINDING CALM AMID THE CRAZY

FUNCTION: THE NEUROSCIENCE OF SCENT AND STRESS

The relationship between scent and stress response is more profound than many realize. When we encounter a calming aroma, our brain processes it differently than other sensory inputs. Unlike visual or auditory stimuli that require cognitive processing, scent information travels directly to the amygdala and hippocampus – brain regions governing emotion and memory – before reaching the cortex.

This neurological shortcut explains why certain scents can immediately reduce cortisol levels and heart rate, sometimes before we've even consciously registered the smell.

This is the idea behind Fragrance 2: Calm. We wanted to provide a portable tranquility solution that combines four powerful botanical allies: peppermint to ease tension and provide headache relief, lavender to reduce stress markers, ylang ylang to induce relaxation, and calendula to support cellular regeneration. The result is a minty, floral composition that feels simultaneously light and deeply effective – like a spa in a tube that creates an immediate shift in your stress response.

TRANSPORT: SANCTUARIES OF STILLNESS

Need to find a peaceful retreat? Across cultures and landscapes, certain places have earned reputations as havens of tranquility, often with distinctive scent profiles that enhance their calming effects. A few ideas to explore:

• In Morocco's Atlas Mountains, the ancient cedar forests surrounding the village of Azrou offer a natural aromatherapy experience. The combination of cedar resin, mountain herbs, and mineral-rich soil creates an atmosphere that local Berber guides describe as "breathing in peace." Visitors often report a distinctive clarity of thought after walking among these trees, many of which are over 250 years old.

• Japan's Yakushima Island – a UNESCO World Heritage site – houses some of the world's oldest cedar trees in its misty forests. The island's unique microclimate creates a perpetual dampness that intensifies the release of phytoncides from the ancient cedars. The resulting atmosphere is so distinctive that the Japanese language has a specific term for it – "shinrin-yoku" or "forest bathing" – recognizing the physiological benefits of immersion in this aromatic environment.

• New Zealand's Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park offers what scientific measurements confirm as the world's clearest freshwater. The extraordinary clarity creates a visual stillness that complements the pure, oxygen-rich air scented with native manuka and kanuka trees. Indigenous Māori revered this area as a place of healing, particularly for respiratory conditions.

BOND: KEEPING QUIET

from "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda

In our quest for calm, poetry has consistently provided sanctuary across cultures and centuries, creating powerful bonds through shared sensory immersion. With its deliberate pacing and attention to breath, poetry naturally slows our racing minds. The ancient tradition of perfuming poetry readings enhances this effect by creating a complete sensory cocoon.

In traditional Arabic majlis gatherings, sandalwood or frankincense would burn as poetry was recited, the aromatic smoke becoming as integral to the experience as the words themselves. Today, this practice finds new expression in "scented verse" events where contemporary poets pair specific fragrances with their readings, creating multi-sensory experiences that anchor listeners more deeply in the present moment.

Try This: Create your own calming scented rituals with Still, Halcyon, and Enlighten Incense. Or get all three in the Incense Bundle.

Until next week...Stay Calm.