A couple of years ago, my son and I went on a tour at our local forest with a conservation officer to learn about salamanders. I never knew our west coast forests had salamanders! We got to help their research by looking for them under damp logs where they like to reside and tally the numbers for the research project. The salamanders were pretty difficult to find as they camouflaged into the environment. I know this post is about mindful smelling…don’t worry we didn’t smell the salamanders . What we did after was the mindful smelling activity.
Part of the tour included the exploring the forest floor and making forest perfume. The conservation officer instructed the kids to find different objects from the ground (making sure not to pick any living things) and put them in a cup to make their own concoction of perfume. This was such a fun activity for all the children as you could see them actively smell each of the items and then carefully pick which items they wanted to put together for their forest perfume. They proudly showed and described to their parents the different scents they had created from nature. My son insisted I put my whole nose into the cup and take in the smells of his forest perfume. When was the last time you went into nature and took a breathed in the fragrance of the earth?
Mindful Smelling Activity: Forest Perfume
- Go into a forest or out in nature and look down at the earth.
- What do you see? Pick up different items that are already on the ground (being careful not to pick anything that is alive or rooted).
- Smell each item. What does each item smell like? Can you describe the smell? What does the smell remind you of?
- Pick the items you like and put them all into a container. What do all the items smell like as a whole? What would you name your forest perfume?
Forest Bathing
Have you heard of forest bathing? The term emerged in Japan in the 1980 to encourage city workers to connect with the forests as an eco-antidote to burnout. Dr. Qing Li studies forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) and discovered how walking the forest can benefit our well-being in many ways. In his book Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You find Health and Happiness, he writes about using all our senses including our sense of smell:
The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. Listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees. Look at the different greens of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the branches. Smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. Taste the freshness of the air as you take deep breaths. Place your hands on the trunk of a tree. Dip your fingers or toes in a stream. Lie on the ground. Drink in the flavor of the forest and release your sense of joy and calm. This is your sixth sense, a state of mind. Now you have connected with nature. You have crossed the bridge to happiness.
Dr. Qing Li (2018)
