You probably don’t imagine your perfumer will talk to you about spirituality–even though, some of the first perfumers were Egyptian priests. You also may not expect discussions of current Western Allopathic dementia treatments and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–even though Perfumers were some of the first “physicians” mentioned in the Bible.

I believe the ability to smell is an undervalued skill–until you lose it. I also believe that because the olfactory bulb is part of the amygdala, scent has the power to effect us emotionally and can be used as a tool for our mental health.

I am not your average perfumer. I am the nose for Modern Peasant (tagline: Scents for Sensitive People), a Board Member for the Institute of Art & Olfaction, a Reiki Master Teacher and an educator in natural perfumery, meditation and more.

Meditation methods and practices tied to scent and memory have helped me retrain my brain towards happiness by reminding me I was loved/capable/(name your self-esteem attribute) by connecting each feeling with a particular scent. It’s not a new concept. Why do you think realtors bake cookies in a house before an open house? The smell reminds people of home, mom baking in the kitchen when you walk in the door! Good way to plant an olfactory subliminal message to help people feel more at home, connecting personal memories to the house you want to sell .

I still feel all the feelings and can get very sad when life hits me with the unexpected Tower (tarot reference for “when shit in hits the fan despite your best efforts”). But the bounce back is quicker now and the spiral down phase has a limited window of opportunity now. My most unexpected ally in my quest for contentment in life? My sense of smell.

This blog is meant to be a guide to happiness that literally asks you to Follow Your Nose. My methods may not work for everyone, but try an Anchor Scent Practice and see if this method is effective for you. It is not about solving all your problems at once. That solution does not exist. As my mother always said, “It’s always something.” But buoyancy is possible and in my world it starts the same way…breathe through your nose.

You may not expect a perfumer to offer deep thoughts on life, the cosmos, emotional well-being and everything at no cost. But I am the Modern Peasant, so read on.