The Healing Power of Nature’s Scents: How Smells from Plants and Soil Soothe Urban Minds

Mewing Kingfisher

15-10-2025

So Zhuang meets Kingfisher: perch, breathe, stare into the flow—and watch the Dao flow his mind and veins. There he is, meditating to become part of the Dao. Kingfisher and the Dao appear to become a whole, the integrity at the sublime realm. Masterful art of meditation.

In Kingfisherish Wandering [1]

© Wix

In modern cities filled with noise and pollution, people are increasingly disconnected from nature. While urban greenery has been recognized for its visual benefits, a new review by Taufer, Pálsdóttir, and Hedblom [2] published in npj Urban Sustainability reveals that the often-overlooked sense of smell plays a crucial role in promoting human health and well-being.

The review analyzed 30 scientific studies examining how natural smells—emanating from trees, flowers, soil, or rain—affect psychological and physiological states. Across these studies, exposure to smells from nature consistently reduced stress, improved mood, enhanced relaxation, and promoted well-being. These effects are linked to the olfactory system’s direct connection to the brain’s emotional and memory centers, bypassing the usual neural filters that process other sensory inputs [3,4].

For example, inhaling scents from pine, lavender, or rose increased alpha brain waves (associated with relaxation) and reduced salivary cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Participants also reported improved cognitive performance, emotional stability, and overall well-being. Importantly, even brief exposures—5 to 30 minutes—were sufficient to trigger measurable benefits.

Despite these findings, most urban planning still focuses on sight rather than multisensory engagement [5,6]. The authors argue that integrating “smellscapes”—the olfactory dimension of the urban environment—into design can enhance the restorative potential of cities. Planting fragrant species such as lilac, magnolia, and osmanthus in public parks, gardens, and streets could create immersive sensory experiences that support mental health and social connectedness.

From the perspective of Nature Quotient (NQ)—the capacity to harmonize with nature’s processes—this study reveals how olfactory awareness deepens our ecological intelligence [7]. Smells from nature cultivate mindfulness, grounding individuals in the present moment, and evoke shared cultural memories that strengthen community bonds. Such multisensory engagement with the environment nurtures individual peace through emotional balance and social peace through collective well-being [8]. In this sense, restoring the natural fragrance of cities is not merely aesthetic—it is a pathway to psychological resilience and sustainable coexistence with nature.

References

[1] Nguyen MH. (2025). Kingfisherish Wandering. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVLLLXNW/

[2] Taufer F, Pálsdóttir AM, Hedblom M. (2025). Psychological and physiological responses to smells from nature—potential health benefits for urban dwellers. npj Urban Sustainability, 5, 80. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00274-0

[3] Herz R. (2016). The role of odor-evoked memory in psychological and physiological health. Brain Sciences, 6, 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci6030022

[4] Soudry Y, et al. (2011). Olfactory system and emotion: common substrates. European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases, 128, 18-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2010.09.007

[5] Pallasmaa J. (1996). The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. John Wiley & Sons.

[6] Franco LS, Shanahan DF, Fuller RA. (2017). A review of the benefits of nature experiences: more than meets the eye. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14, 864. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080864

[7] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH. (2025). On Nature Quotient. Pacific Conservation Biology, 31, PC25028. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC25028

[8] Nguyen MH, Ho MT, La VP. (2025). On “An” (安): Inner peace through uncertainty, nature quotient, and harmony with Dao. http://books.google.com/books/about?id=NIKMEQAAQBAJ