There are days that just feel like too much. You’re juggling deadlines, worried that AI is going to steal your job, trying to show up for people, maybe navigating a big change you didn’t quite see coming. On those days, it’s easy to think the fix needs to be something big. A reset trip. A deep therapy breakthrough. Some kind of escape. I used to think that, which is why I've been to Iceland 6 times.
But what if it’s simpler than that?
I was listening to two podcasts recently. One from Mel Robbins, the other with Andrew Huberman. They both circled the same truth in their own way: the things that help us most aren’t always grand. Sometimes, they’re as small as a scent. A ritual. Something comforting that gives your nervous system a quiet place to land.
One of the stories that stuck with me was about Mel’s son going off to college. He packed the usual stuff, but also took his childhood blanket and Teddy. Not because he was clinging to the past, but because those familiar items gave him a sense of grounding. Predictability. Comfort. And in a new environment full of unknowns, that stability gave him confidence. That really landed for me because I've found my own small anchors over the years. Of course, one of my biggest ones being hinoki oil.
Because comfort isn’t just about chilling out. It’s about refueling. Resetting. Giving your mind and body a safe place to pause so you can keep showing up strong.
Mel talked about how comfort brings ease, but also energy. It's not a luxury. It’s a tool. One that helps you take risks, stay calm in the chaos, and feel okay when things feel shaky. It’s like charging a battery. You can’t always be outputting. You need a way to come home to yourself.
That’s where scent comes in.
Huberman’s work explains something I’ve felt intuitively for years: scent is fast. It doesn’t go through the logic part of your brain. It hits the limbic system, the part that controls emotion, memory, and motivation. When you smell something familiar and safe, like hinoki or fresh linen or warm cinnamon, your brain reacts instantly. Dopamine is released. That “feel good” chemical floods your system and tells your body: you’re okay.
That’s why you feel calmer when you light a favorite candle. Why freshly cut grass can take you back to childhood summers. Why the right essential oil before bed can help you sleep deeper than you have in weeks.
And of course, we know the flip side too.
We’ve all had moments when scent made everything worse. One recent experience for me was walking into a hotel room that had a wet and moldy smell. No matter how nice the room looked, the smell instantly changed everything. You can’t see the smell, but it changes the room. You feel it in your body before your brain catches up.
That’s why being intentional with scent matters so much. You’re going to smell things all day long. Some that lift you, some that distract or stress you. What if you could tip the scale a little? Add a few check-in moments throughout your day that feel like home base?
Maybe it’s a scent you roll on as you sit down to focus. A familiar blend that helps you feel clear in the middle of a busy afternoon. A comforting note before you crawl into bed. These little rituals might feel subtle, but they work deeply. They tell your body you’re safe. They refill your tank. They bring you back. That's why I created my own line of travel fragrances. Each scent reminds me of the emotions I felt while traveling to those countries. When I smell them during a time of stress or laziness, it changes my mood instantly.
Here’s the other thing that doesn’t get talked about enough: comfort fuels growth.
We think we need to always be stretching, always improving. That's how I've lived most of my life so I know. But learning and expansion don’t happen in the stretch. They happen in the recovery just like your muscles after a workout. When your body feels calm enough to integrate whatever you’ve just experienced. Scent can be a part of that recovery in a small but powerful way to tell your brain, "we’re good now."
So, if you have a scent that makes you feel more like you, lean into it. Keep it close. Build a ritual around it. Don’t wait until you’re burned out to bring in comfort. Use it throughout the day, like little anchors, holding you steady. That's how I've developed a lifestyle that's more rooted in calm than always feeling like I have to put a fire out.
There’s real power in that. Not just the science, though the science is amazing. But the reminder that what brings you peace is valid. That a bottle of oil or a soft blanket or a childhood Teddy isn’t silly. It’s smart. It’s strategy.
It’s what keeps you grounded, so you can keep growing.
