How the Smells of Nature can Affect Human Well-Being

Whether it’s a walk in the park, hike in the forest or tending to a backyard garden, there’s ample subjective and scientific evidence that being in nature can have beneficial effects for us, from relieving stress to improving our mood. But less is known about how scents of nature that are below our conscious awareness, from the unmistakable odor of a pine tree to chemicals emitted by plants, influence human health and behavior.

In a recently published paper, a team of scientists in the U.S., Europe and Asia make the case for more research to be done on the link between the rich olfactory environments of nature and human health. As air pollution and habitat loss threaten biodiversity, they also threaten olfactory diversity in the natural world.

Read or listen to this interview with Greg Bratman, co-director of the UW Center for Nature and Health, by Sheraz Sadiq from Oregon Public Broadcasting.