Can You Train Your Brain Through Your Nose?
For the last 7 years there has been much more scientific interest in recognising the importance of the sense of smell or “Olfaction” in our lives as well as in applying the Olfaction Training methodology for reversing several conditions like “anosmia”, the loss of the sense of smell. The partial or total loss of sense of smell can be due to injury or infection creating an olfactory dysfunction.
The Olfactory Neural System is complex and is able to replace olfactory dead cells with new olfactory cells from the Olfactory Bulb to the Cerebral Cortex and the Limbic System every few months.
Olfaction Training also has been proven to boost brain health, activating brain regions
that govern emotion and memory, bypassing the Thalamus. This training of the sense of smell assists in the increment of grey matter in the Hippocampus and the Orbitofrontal Cortex, by using short, daily sessions of intentional scent exposure to protect the brain from the risk of cognitive decline in ageing populations.

New generations, influenced from the social effects from the COVID-19 and post viral
controls, have experienced a life intimately linked to computers and screens constantly.  They spend more time secluded in offices or home watching screens browsing social media on their phones, than experiencing real sensory reality, like going to the bush, a park, a garden, re-connecting with Nature, and relating physically with people and animals. This generation requires attention, as some of them already suffer “anosmia” and have not been appropriately treated for this condition.

What could be the effects of not having Olfactive stimulation?

• Loss of Sense of Smell: Not being able to detect something that can be poisonous or dangerous, so our sense of safety and alarm warning does not get activated.
• Not able to enjoy pleasant smells and flavours in the food. Feeling depressed.
• Food tastes different or bland.
• Not be able to relate well with other people or not be able to feel what other people feel (meaning, lack of empathy), having low or unbalanced moods.
• Loss of Cognitive Capabilities: Without a proper Olfaction Training, Verbal capabilities deteriorate.  As the Scent Smell training works on Memory, Semantic and Verbal fluency, this can activate some neural connections related to those areas.

There have been Olfaction Training studies on patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases bringing some measurable improvements in Olfactory, Memory and Cognition areas.
So, there are still people suffering from an Olfactory Dysfunction that do not consider
the effects of losing the sense od smell partially or totally important and take it for granted as an irrelevant sense compared to Vision or Hearing. All senses are important, but the Sense of Smell, Olfaction, since the last century has been completely culturally erased from the senses’ priority list not knowing that indeed Olfaction is an important and primary sense.

When we were born, before we could see and recognise visually, we smelled and tasted.
We related through the sense of smell to our mother even when being in our mother’s womb. We used our taste buds to recognise the taste of our mother’s milk.
Having previous Olfactory experiences can open a door to re-training our brain and re-
connecting with our memory and olfactory sensors in our brain and body, so we can compare what was in our memory of that smell, how we actually smell, and what associated feeling or emotion we had. We need to activate neural connections through a routine of Olfaction Training.
Some other people are fearful about Scents or Aromas in public spaces, cosmetics like
creams and soaps, candles, diffusers and the use of detergents as they have been exposed to allergens experiencing skin irritation, asthma attacks, dermatitis or psoriasis, rhinitis or sinusitis. It is true that there is a population affected by the environment. In these cases, it is recommended to only use the Scents of Nature going to to these places. This will also be true regarding the scent of foods.
Avoiding synthetic and strong concentrated fragrances in the environment will be key for the detoxification process as well as having proper ventilation.

Key Health Benefits and Neuroplasticity​
When smelling scents, it is recommended to smell Nature, Food, and Essential Oils as they are in Nature, since we have the advantage of smelling the healing properties of Scent molecules.
Our brains have the ability to continuously change in response to the experience, called “Neuroplasticity”, and this ability may be key to the way in which smell training works.
Neuroplasticity involves the generation of new and/or strengthened connections
between neurons (brain cells), which may in turn lead to changes in thinking skills or
behaviours. We can see evidence of Neuroplasticity when we practice a skill like playing an instrument or learning a new language.
The olfactory network in our brains is particularly neuroplastic. When we frequently use the many parts of the brain involved in the process of smelling through repeated exposure to odours, this process may lead to increased olfactory abilities and cognition. It’s possible then that we could ‘train the brain through the nose.’

Another important factor that is not widely discussed is having a good, healthy diet.
What we ingest, can alter our digestive system and our sense of smell. It has been recently acknowledged in science that there are olfactory sensors in our digestive system. These sensors send signal information to our brain. It is now recognised that certain cases of Anxiety and Depression and other sensitivities have origins coming from problems in our Digestive System. Taste is related to Smell.
The Vagus Nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body and is intimately linked in the
regulation of our gut, cardiovascular system, respiratory and endocrine systems.

So, what does the Vagus Nerve have to do with our sense of smell and taste?
The Hypothalamus and the Vagus Nerve communicate in a highway exchange fashion
between the gut where the vagus nerve entangles its way through, and the brain that provides feedback. When the distension of the gastric wall changes during the intake of food, the sensitivity of olfactory neurons changes to induce and almost repulse food odors in order to signify that we are satisfied and do not require more. This is fascinating!!

Most recent studies are starting to integrate AI and collection of data from databases to enable personalised treatment for Olfactory Dysfunction.
​
The International Perfume Foundation provides an in-depth Olfaction Training Certification Course on re-training our Sense of Smell.  This course is not just for people interested in Natural Perfumery and Aromatherapy, but also for those interested in improving their own or other people’s health.

REFERENCES:
1. Dr. Wolf - Anna & Bahar-Fuchs, Alex - “HEALTH & MEDICINE - How smelling can help
your brain” - 14 March 2019 https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/how-smelling-can-help-your-brain.
2. Nazareth, Lynn - “CSIRO - You can train your nose - and 4 other surprising facts about your sense of smell” - 23 January, 2025 https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2025/january/train-your-nose
3. Liu, Xialei , Yin, Junjei et al - “ The potential of Olfactory Training and dietary interventions in the treatment of Olfactory Dysfunction: A review” - Trends in Food Science and Technology - Volume 167 - January 2026 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224425005965
4. ATP, Science - “Olfactory - The First Steps of Digestion” July 30, 2020 https://
atpscience.com.au/blogs/blog/olfactory-the-first-steps-of-digestion
5. Matiashova, Lolita; Hoogkamer,Anouk Lisa; Timper,Katharina - “ The Role of Olfactory
System in Obesity and Metabolism in Humans” Metabolites 2024, 25 December 2023

Why Smell Has Always Guided Humanity

The history of perfume is, above all, the history of our sense of smell.
Long before perfume became associated with luxury or personal beauty, fragrance was one of humanity’s first languages. It was a language without words, capable of communicating directly with the heart, awakening emotions that could not be explained, and creating invisible connections between people, nature, and the sacred.

Every civilization discovered that fragrance possessed an extraordinary power.
It could calm fear before battle.
It could awaken memories of loved ones long gone.
It could prepare the mind for meditation and prayer.
It could accompany births, marriages, and funerals.
It could comfort the sick and bring peace to the dying.
It could purify homes and temples.
It could celebrate life without saying a single word.
Whether in Ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, the Arab world, or among Indigenous cultures across the globe, aromatic plants were never considered mere pleasant scents. They were gifts from nature carrying both physical and spiritual virtues. Incense rose with prayers toward the heavens, fragrant oils honored kings and queens, medicinal herbs restored the body, and flowers became symbols of beauty, healing, and renewal.

What these civilizations understood intuitively, modern neuroscience now explains.
Among all our senses, smell occupies a unique place. Unlike sight, hearing, touch, or taste, olfactory signals travel directly to the limbic system—the ancient part of the brain responsible for emotion, memory, motivation, instinct, and survival. There is no complex intellectual filter before an odor reaches our emotional centers. We do not think about a scent before we feel it. We simply experience it.
This remarkable pathway explains why a single fragrance can instantly transport us back to childhood, remind us of someone we loved, or evoke a place we have not visited for decades. A scent can bring comfort before we even understand why. It can create feelings of safety, joy, nostalgia, serenity, or inspiration within a fraction of a second.
Scientists call this the “Proust phenomenon,” after the French writer Marcel Proust, who beautifully described how the aroma of a simple madeleine cake dipped in tea released an entire world of forgotten memories. Yet thousands of years before neuroscience gave it a name, perfumers, healers, priests, and herbalists had already learned to work with this invisible doorway to human consciousness.

Our ancestors understood something we are only beginning to rediscover: fragrance does not simply decorate life—it influences it.
Natural aromatic plants evolved over millions of years, producing complex molecules that allow them to communicate with insects, protect themselves, attract pollinators, or adapt to their environment. When humans encounter these same aromatic molecules, our own biology responds. We breathe them, remember through them, and often find emotional balance because of them.
Perhaps this is why perfume has survived every civilization. Empires have risen and disappeared, languages have changed, religions have evolved, yet humanity has never abandoned fragrance.

Perfume is more than a cosmetic product.
It is an invisible art.
It is a messenger of memory.
It is a bridge between nature and emotion.
It is one of the oldest forms of human wellbeing.
Today, in a world increasingly dominated by synthetic environments and digital experiences, our sense of smell deserves renewed attention. We educate our eyes through museums, our ears through music, and our minds through books, yet we rarely cultivate the sense that may be the most intimate of all.

Learning to smell is learning to become present.
It is rediscovering the richness of flowers, forests, spices, resins, and woods. It is reconnecting with the living world through one of the oldest senses evolution has given us. Perhaps this is why perfume continues to fascinate us after more than five thousand years. Because every fragrance reminds us, however briefly, that we belong to nature—and that some of our deepest memories, emotions, and moments of beauty are carried not by words or images, but by scent.

Continue Your Olfactory Journey
​Our sense of smell is one of the most powerful—and often the least educated—of our senses. Like a musician trains the ear or an artist trains the eye, perfumers train the nose. The Natural Olfaction Training Course at the Natural Perfumery Teacher’s Academy is designed to develop your olfactory memory, sharpen your perception, and help you recognize and understand the language of natural aromatic materials.Whether you dream of becoming a natural perfumer or simply wish to deepen your appreciation of fragrance and find a way to Reconnect with Nature, your journey begins with learning to smell consciously.

The Natural Olfaction Training course is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Arabic languages.

For those Natural Perfumers who are attending or contemplating attending the trade event in Houston, Texas August 14-16, here are three event strategies that can make your participation a complete success!

1. Develop a pre-event plan

• The number one strategy for event success is the use of business cards, both yours and everyone you speak with at the event. Bring plenty of cards and don’t be shy about handing them out.
• Find out as much information as you can about who will attend the event. Consumers?  Media?  Students?
• Develop distinct messages for whomever you think will be there. 
• Develop a plan that will allow you to have a successful event even if you talk very few people there. More on this later.

2. Maximize the use of time spent at the event

• Remember, you are at the event for business and for no other reason than supporting your business’s success.
• Qualify everyone you speak with before you begin your presentation. Why are they there?
• Give your business card to whomever you speak with. 
• Get a card from every business or media person you connect with inside or outside the booth. If they say they have no card, write their name and contact information on one of your cards. Make quick notes on the back of their cards about what was discussed.
• At the end of each day, review each card and make notes on what follow-up will be needed.

3. Complete the after-event follow-up
The most under-appreciated but necessary key to event success is the strategy of after-event follow-up. It always amazes me that this most important event strategy is nearly always neglected or entirely forgotten. It probably has a lot to do with people returning from a trade event having to catch up with things put off by their event attendance. Even so, proper follow-up has to be immediately scheduled and completed within one week of returning, since the effectiveness of proper follow-up rapidly declines over a very short period of time. Here are a few suggestions to get the most out of your follow-up strategy:

• Keep every business card you get. Decide which people should be immediately contacted, but don’t throw any cards away. You never know when someone you spoke with at an event will become important to you later on.
• Follow up every event sale with a personal note thanking them for their purchase.
• Write a “Sorry we missed you letter” explaining how great you did at the event and what they missed. It doesn’t matter if they intended to attend the event or not.
• Write a blog or article about your event attendance, which is an act of leadership that will build consumers’ trust if you let them know.
• Now, about having a successful event even if you talk very few people at the event: what most people fail to realize is that more sales can be made after the event than at the event. At an event, people are pressed for time since there is a lot for them to see. After the event, you can contact or message not just those that were there, but those that weren’t there as well.

These are proven strategies can make your event attendance less stressful, knowing that you will be immediately following up and making your event a complete success!
​
Please email me at [email protected] with any questions you may have on successful event management. IPF is here to help!

The Olfactory Experience of perceiving scents and the use of language for describing
scents have been present in all Ancient Civilisations and in this era. This means that Olfaction has been the most important sense used for survival, communication, protection, healing, and beauty, used in sacred rituals ceremonies and connection to the Divine.

Since pre-history, human beings discovered fire, and then, the fascinating experience of smelling the particles of wood and resins being burned through smoke.
The word “Perfume” comes from this concept in Latin “Per - fumum” that literally means “through smoke”.

In Literature, the language of scent has been used to describe events, places, persons,
gardens, palaces, dresses, the country-side, the misery and the richness, the sacred places, the abundant places, the simple places that trigger our memories, all in  descriptive, poetic, and historical ways.

We have used Language to describe the reality around us and pass the experience to
others, by categorisation of plants and flowers, olfactory properties, health properties, and uses in other aspects of our lives, like traditions. Additionally, we have used Scents as well as Body Language for Healing and Sacred Ceremonies to communicate with our inner-self and align better with Nature.

In pre-history and ancient history, humans had a bigger Limbic System in our brain
than today's human beings.
The Limbic System is responsible for managing our Memory, Emotions and Identification. In this era of immediacy, screen interaction, isolation, scent restriction or phobia, we are evolving with the risk of developing a smaller Limbic System and this is already bringing a society that does not retain concepts or places or historical factors, and also a society that has less empathy and less need for identifying with others and identifying risks by themselves without the use of technology. Society is been driven by Visual Communication mostly, while one sense is being on demand, this eclipses the other senses.

Aromatherapy has been part of a millenary wisdom and it is very much linked to the
Connection with Nature, using this wisdom to identify healing plants and flowers and different methods of healing. Natural Aromatherapy is defined by the use of Natural Raw Materials, not synthetic fragrances. The best Natural Aromatherapy starts by going out to a Garden, the Bush or Countryside. Experiencing the smell of the actual plants and flowers makes Olfaction a powerful tool, as the aromatic molecules will go to the Olfactory system in our brain and Limbic system, but also will act on our Sympathetic and Para-Sympathetic Nervous Systems in our body.

There are various methods of Natural Aromatherapy applications like:
aerial diffusions, baths, oil applications through massage, food, patches, creams or lotions, shampoos, and clay compresses. The scent and properties of each raw material,  plant or essential oil will manifest in their own healing language.
By using the different parts of the plant, sometimes the roots, sometimes the leaves, and sometimes the flowers, the healing therapeutic properties and methods may change.

Understanding the use of essential oils, their potency, contra-indications and application methods is paramount for producing synergies that will act on specific area of our body, organ, or enhancing mood and emotional wellbeing. Plant maceration is also a method for creating oils that are not that potent as essential oils, but provide therapeutic synergies. Essential oils have to be treated carefully, always dilute before application, otherwise, only smell from the bottle. Essential oils are not meant to be drunk; they can irritate our throat and internal organs. Only specialised oil capsules can be used for internal use.  Always consult your medical practitioner.

Another aspect of Natural Aromatherapy is the use of reputable quality of essential oils
that are neither adulterated, nor mixed with other blends or fragrances without indication for the guarantee of high degree of healing properties.
Nowadays, we are blending the experience of Natural Aromatherapy with Natural Perfumes. In the last century, the focus of Perfume was aesthetic, was part of fashion and was no longer made of natural raw materials, but with synthetics and isolates.

Natural Perfumery plays two roles:
1. Expressing beauty, transporting you to a place or emotion; and,
2. Bringing the therapeutic role of each accord of the Perfume construction.
This blend of these two disciplines and Olfaction Training is called Natural Perfumotherapy, a new way to go in Perfumery bringing Scents to Emotions, Wellbeing and aligning us to Re-Connect with Nature.

More info about Perfumotherapy 

There is a quiet intelligence in the horse that every rider comes to recognize.
Before the rein is shortened, before the leg gives a cue, before the body speaks, the horse has already felt the room. It has read the breath, the tension, the intention. Horses do not respond only to movement. They respond to presence. To atmosphere. To the invisible language that surrounds them.

This is what makes scent such a remarkable bridge between horse and human.
For centuries, horses have lived close to the aromatic world of plants. Wild herbs under hoof. Resin in the wind. Dry grasses warmed by the sun. Bark, roots, leaves, and blossoms carried through the landscape. Long before modern stables, horses knew nature through scent, and still today, their instinctive relationship to aroma remains deeply intact.

A horse does not analyze fragrance. It senses it, it chooses. it reacts, and it remembers.
Aromatic botanicals can influence the equine nervous system with surprising subtlety. Certain scents may encourage calm in moments of tension. Others may support focus before work, ease transitions during retraining, or help create a more harmonious atmosphere in the stable. For sensitive horses, scent can become a language of reassurance. For performance horses, it can support concentration, confidence, and emotional balance.

This is not about perfume for horses.
It is about understanding the horse through its most instinctive sense, and learning how botanicals can be used with intelligence, precision, and respect.
For riders, trainers, and caretakers, this opens a new dimension of communication.
One that does not force, but invites. One that does not dominate, but listens. When used correctly, scent becomes part of the environment around the horse—supporting wellbeing, trust, and connection.
This course was created for those who wish to work more intuitively and more consciously with horses. For those who understand that performance begins with regulation. That trust shapes response. That true horsemanship is not only physical, but emotional, sensory, and deeply relational.

Whether you work in dressage, rehabilitation, retraining, therapy, or daily stable care, the intelligent use of botanicals offers a refined and natural way to support the horse’s wellbeing while deepening the quality of your relationship.
​
Discover the art and science of using essential oils to support the emotional and physical well-being of the horse. ​Scents Loved by Horses explores how thoughtfully selected botanicals can be incorporated into training and daily care to encourage calmness, improve focus, support retraining, and enhance performance. Students will learn the principles of safe aromatic application, the horse’s instinctive response to scent, and the foundational techniques for crafting their own individualized equine blends.

Eucalyptus has 3 species:
Eucalyptus radiata (Peppermint like gum scent, NSW, QLD, VIC, 
TAS, Australia)
Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon like gum scent, Queensland, Australia), Eucalyptus globulus (Woody camphoraceous like gum scent, Tasmania, Australia). 
Each of these 3 different species of Eucalyptus will have a different aroma profile and therapeutic use. Eucalyptus radiata is used to treat congestion in the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, pharynx), while Eucalyptus globulus is used to treat congestion and infection in the lower respiratory tract (lungs, bronchi, trachea, bronchioles). Eucalyptus citriodora has been used as an insect repellent, also it is decongestant in the upper respiratory tract, use in pain relief as an anti-spasmodic treating arthritis, muscle pain; and it is an antiseptic used for treating wounds and cuts. 

The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) and the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) have 114 classified existing botanical families, including: 

• 40 prominent botanical families of medicinal plants 
• 20 prominent botanical families of perfume plants 
• 12 prominent botanical families of essential oil plants 

Aromatherapy is based on the 12 prominent botanical families of essential oil plants. 
These families’ names are in Latin: 

• Abietaceae (Conifers, Resins)
• Apiaceae (Angelica, Coriander, Fennel)
• Asteraceae (Chamomile, Daisy, Helichrysum, Tarragon)
• Cupressaceae (Cypress, Juniper); Ericaceae (Wintergreen, Lemon)
• Geraniaceae (Geranium, Pelargonium)
• Lamiaceae (Lavender, Mint, Marjoram) 
• Lauraceae (Cinnamon, Laurel, Ravintsara)
• Myrtaceae (Myrtle, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus)
• Poaceae (Grasses like Vetiver or Cymbopogon) 
• Rutaceae (fruits, citrus like Lemon, bigarade petitgrain, sweet orange)
• Zingiberaceae (Roots like Turmeric, Ginger and Cardamom). 

Essential Oils used for Aromatherapy must be “pure essential oils” and high quality. 
This means that it is a genuine botanical source and contains no fillers, additives or other impurities or adulterations. 

The Chemotype or Chemical Race  is like an ID card of a plant.
The “chemotype” makes it possible to distinguish two or more essential oils of different chemical compositions produced from plants of the same species. For instance: 

Basil Chemotypes: 

• Exotic Basil : Ocimum basilicum L. - Extracted from flowering top - Contains Chavicol methyl ether, linalool - Used as a tonic for the central nervous system, revitalizing and anti-stress, powerful antispasmodic, digestive tonic.
• Holy Basil : Ocimum basilicum L. - Extracted from Leaf - Contains metyl-eugenol, beta-caryophyllene - Used as a stimulant of the nervous and physical system, anti-infectious, used in acne treatment, or antioxidant.

A Chemotype is defined, either from the country or region of origin, or from the part of the plant being extracted. 

For Cedarwood, there are four Chemotypes: 

• Atlas Cedarwood
• Virginian Cedarwood
• Himalayan Cedarwood, 
• Texas Cedarwood.

The most used are the Atlas and Virginian. 
Both have lymph-tonic and draining properties, significant lipolytic skin regeneration and scalp tonic. Beware, these varieties have abortive and neurotoxic properties in the long term. 
Each country grows local, ethnical aromatic plants, and this is important to know  regarding diversity and the use of essential oils sourced locally. ​

Finally, we are emerging from winter’s cold and doldrums, and now we can begin embracing the positive spirits of transformation and renewal - giving Natural Perfumers significant marketing differential advantages.

Spring can provide us with these key lessons:

• Embracing Renewal & Growth: Just like plants developing and flowers blooming, spring represents personal and business transformations, discarding old habits, and starting fresh with newly discovered knowledge and energy.
• The Power of Patience: Because transitions are gradual, spring teaches that meaningful growth takes time, consistent effort, and trust in the process.
• Resilience & Hope: Spring arrives after the coldest days, symbolizing that warmth and life will return, encouraging positive outlooks within yourself, your suppliers, and consumers. 
• Letting Go & Decluttering: The "spring cleaning" tradition applies both mentally and emotionally, encouraging us to clear space for new opportunities to present themselves.
• Taking Action: It is a time to plant seeds—both literally and metaphorically—by setting goals and taking action on new marketing projects.

For those wishing to have a better understanding of marketing, compare it with growing spring flowers properly from germinations, to seedlings, to robust plants, and finally, to colorful flowers. Each stage of plant development is like a link in a supply chain, with each stage completed using optimum flower growing standards to produce superior and sustainable blooming plants.
Like spring flower growing, marketing also involves understanding the complete supply chain from production to processing, to distribution, to consumer purchases, consumption, satisfaction, and repurchases. Each link has a responsibility to add value and then pass on that added value to the next link: all to maximize consumer satisfaction with our natural essence products.

Here are some thoughts that can help you Spring Forward this year:

• Balance the need for internal goals and direction with external needs as well.  Your business purpose and mission are vital, but so are other links in the supply chain. Improve your knowledge of sourcing and then link what you’ve learned to what current consumers’ current purchasing priorities are, including products that can give consumers healthier lifestyles.
• Increase your knowledge of the value of your suppliers to consumers. Every source of natural products should also be sources of valuable information you can use to better tell your story to consumers. Supply chains are like living things that need to be continuously cared for and improved to better satisfy consumers and deliver profitable sales.                             
• Take advantage of IPF’s growing momentum aligned with education, wellness, sustainable sourcing, supply chain standards, and visual storytelling with emotional connectivity to Natural Perfumes.                                                                                                                                                                      

IPF's Natural Perfumery Teacher's Academy is full of opportunities to Spring Forward armed with superior knowledge and renewed energy to help you better compete in the marketplace.