INCENSE AND SAGE

Of all of the five senses which we humans are blessed with, the sense of smell is perhaps the most spontaneous.  It is the most strongly connected sense to the areas of the brain that process memory, meaning that even the smallest whiff of a smell that you had previously connected to a certain place can bring you back to that place in mere moments.  The sense of smell is directly wired to your brain, unlike the other senses, meaning that the link between smells and brain response is very rapid and quite ancient and primordial in nature. This is perhaps why incense has been used so extensively by so many cultures since ancient times.  From the joss sticks used in China, to the cedar and sage burned by indigenous tribes of the Americas, people all over the world have been burning plant essences in order to manipulate the sense of smell, and thus their brains, from the beginning of time.

Incense is a wonderful way to change the atmosphere of a room in seconds without  having to go through the trouble of painting or moving furniture around.  Scents such as Japanese cedar, sandalwood and lavender seem to instantly pull the mind into a calm, meditative state in which you will find it easier to bring greater depth to your home.