Mindfulness can mean a range of things to different people, however it’s generally described as the practice of paying full attention to the present moment without judgement
- How to incorporate Incense into your mindfulness rituals
- The Connection Between Scent & Memory
Our ambition at Scents of Purpose is to create a connection between our scents and your memory known as the “Proustian Effect”. This effect was named after the French novelist Marcel Proust, who described how the aroma of a madeleine cake triggered a flood of childhood memories.
Research has shown that scents can evoke strong emotional responses and memories, often more vividly than other sensory stimuli. This is because the olfactory bulb, which processes smells, is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, which are key brain regions for processing emotions and memories.
Studies have also demonstrated that scents can enhance learning and retention of information. For example, one study found that participants who were exposed to a particular scent while studying a list of words, recalled those words more accurately when exposed to the same scent during a memory test.
Furthermore, the use of certain scents in therapy, such as aromatherapy, has been shown to have a positive impact on memory and cognitive function in individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Research suggests that it can take as little as one exposure to a scent for a cognitive connection to form. However, since some mindfulness sessions are more effective than others, we recommend undergoing a repeated practice for a full pack of incense (12 sessions) in order to ensure the scent is well seeded with that specific intention.
To access our free meditation playlists curated for each of our scents visit their individual scent page.
