Scent Science.

How specific aromatic compounds interact with the body, and what research can — and can't — tell us.

A single bergamot fruit cut in half on a pale stone surface in soft natural daylight.

Plain-language summary

Bergamot and alertness: what one well-designed study showed.

Of the citrus oils used in aromatherapy research, bergamot has the most consistent evidence base for mood and stress effects. One study stands out for its design quality and its measured outcomes.

Scent Science · 4 min read · 16 June 2026

Essay

Three small amber jars on a stone counter, soft daylight from the side.

A note on restraint

The case for boring scents.

Most premium candles try to impress with complexity. We chose lavender, rosemary, and bergamot because the boring answer is the honest one.

Scent Science · 6 min read · 24 May 2026

Plain-language summary

A small amber jar with dried lavender sprigs on a pale linen surface.

Plain-language summary

Lavender, linalool, and what blood plasma can actually tell us.

The lavender sleep literature is the most replicated body of research in clinical aromatherapy. This creates an expectation problem: because so many trials show consistent effects, the reasoning sounds cleaner than it is.

Scent Science · 5 min read · 21 May 2026

Plain-language summary

A small amber jar of rosemary sprigs on a pale stone surface.

Plain-language summary

What the Moss & Oliver 2012 study on rosemary actually showed.

A breakdown of one of the most-cited studies on rosemary aromatherapy and cognitive performance — including what it didn't claim.

Scent Science · 4 min read · 21 May 2026