I am doing a presentation next week on nature therapy and smell. Many years ago I trained in aromatherapy and enjoyed every moment. My nose has had considerable influence over my brain and subsequent actions. It helps me make a judgment about every place I go to and I have often found places I could linger in simply because of the pleasant scent. Research has shown that sniffing odours you like makes you happier. Scents like peppermint and cinnamon can even reduce aggression.
Preparing this presentation made me think about my favourite smell of nature. It has to be horses, but I have written before about the unique calming hormone they release through their skin to calm other horses.
So, my second favourite is the stench (because that is what it could aptly be described as) of Pompey Docks. The smell of the sea when the tide is out has a slight undertone of sewage but to me it is comforting. When I worked away for long periods, once I could smell that distinct odour, it symbolised I was nearly home. Smell you see is a unique and learned experience and we can recognise up to 100,000 different odours, but each person smells an odour differently. Smell really is an under-rated sense but can have a powerful impact without us realising - sometimes it is even put down to gut instinct.
I am really looking forward to doing this presentation and seeing if I can inspire others about the importance of smelly nature in nourishing minds.
Preparing this presentation made me think about my favourite smell of nature. It has to be horses, but I have written before about the unique calming hormone they release through their skin to calm other horses.
So, my second favourite is the stench (because that is what it could aptly be described as) of Pompey Docks. The smell of the sea when the tide is out has a slight undertone of sewage but to me it is comforting. When I worked away for long periods, once I could smell that distinct odour, it symbolised I was nearly home. Smell you see is a unique and learned experience and we can recognise up to 100,000 different odours, but each person smells an odour differently. Smell really is an under-rated sense but can have a powerful impact without us realising - sometimes it is even put down to gut instinct.
I am really looking forward to doing this presentation and seeing if I can inspire others about the importance of smelly nature in nourishing minds.
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