“The fragrance of sandalwood, tagara, and jasmine does not travel against the wind. But the fragrance of the virtuous travels even against the wind. A virtuous person spreads fragrance in all directions.”
Dhammapada
Human beings seek to perceive beauty through all the senses.
With trembling hearts, we contemplate the colourful palette of a cooling evening horizon.
Closing our eyes, we listen to the song of rain or to the many voices of birds.
The touch of a hand on a child’s head fills us with tenderness.
And our world is also filled with millions of aromas. Without them, our sense of life and reality would not be complete. Smells affect us far more deeply than we are used to thinking.
Smell, memory, and emotion
The sense of smell gives us less “data” compared with other senses, but it is more deeply connected with memory and emotion.
In terms of the amount of information, smells yield to sight and hearing. Human beings orient themselves in the world mostly through the eyes.
However, the sense of smell is arranged in an unusual way: smell signals are directly connected with the limbic system of the brain.
That is, with areas connected with emotions, memory, and reactions.
Because of this, smells often:
- evoke vivid memories;
- instantly change an emotional state;
- create a sense of the atmosphere of a space.
Why smells affect memory so strongly
Smells are processed by brain structures closely connected with:
- the amygdala;
- the hippocampus.
These areas take part in the formation of emotional memory.
That is why a faint aroma can unexpectedly:
- bring back the feeling of childhood;
- remind us of a particular place;
- evoke a state that is difficult to describe in words.
This effect is well studied in neuropsychology and is sometimes called the “Proust effect” — after Marcel Proust, who described a flash of memory caused by smell and taste.
An interesting fact
Although people often consider smell a “weak” sense, research shows that human beings are capable of distinguishing a huge number of scent combinations — far more than was once assumed.
The old figure of “10,000 smells” is now considered to be greatly underestimated.
Why this matters for Buddhist practice
It is precisely because of the connection between smell, attention, and the state of mind that incense entered monastic life so naturally.
An aroma:
- does not require active attention;
- gently changes the perception of space;
- creates a stable association with practice.
That is why the smell of juniper, sandalwood, or smoke in a temple can become part of meditative memory — almost like the sound of a bell or the rhythm of sutra recitation.
The art of making incense
The making of incense in monastic communities has become a separate art since ancient times.
In different corners of the planet, one can still witness this mystery being carried out in accordance with ancient recipes and traditions. Plants, essential oils, resins, minerals, honey, milk, and even precious metals may be used to prepare aromatic blends.
Incense also plays a significant role in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine, as well as in Ayurveda. Healing smoke from medicinal plants purifies the air of infections and pollution, and has a beneficial effect on the skin, respiratory organs, and nervous system.
In the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, Buddhist monks gather precious herbs and flowers, tree bark, and special secret ingredients in order to fill temples with subtle, delicate scents, just as was done centuries ago.
In the monasteries of Tibet, ceremonies of burning sang are held. Fragrant smoke is carried by the wind over the mountains, symbolizing the spreading of good intentions. It is a selfless offering to the Buddhas and Protectors for the benefit of all sentient beings.
In Buddhist monasteries in India and Japan, China and Thailand, gentle embers glow, and thin threads of smoke rise upward, filling the space with the aromas of Dharma.
Juniper
The thick, viscous smell of juniper fills the space like wild honey.
Its noble bitterness and freshness give the mind vigour and clarity here and now.
Sandalwood
The refined aroma of sandalwood is soft, warm, almost bodily, with milky notes.
Sandalwood smells of the evening sun and silence.
Jasmine
Jasmine smells of life. It smells of celebration, serene childhood joy.
Sweet and fresh, without a trace of doubt — the smell of happiness and eternal summer.
Agarwood
The aroma of agarwood is dark, deep, and almost impossible to explain in words.
It is not simply a “woody” smell: it changes in layers, as if it were alive.
Wormwood
The smell of wormwood is bitter, dry, and silvery, if silver could have a scent.
Wormwood smells of steppe, wind, and wild freedom.
There is something very ancient in wormwood: the smell of the road, grass, protective charms, and empty spaces beneath the stars.
Lotus
The lotus has the aroma of coolness, morning dew, calmness, stillness, and pure water.
It is not loud or daring; it does not stir the senses. On the contrary, it gives calm and confidence.
Myrrh
The smell of myrrh is oily, bitter-sweet, warm, as if warmed in the palms of the hands.
It is the aroma of antiquity and quiet wisdom that requires no answer.
The aroma of life
Aromas are present in every moment of our life.
While dwelling in the whirl of everyday life, find a moment, stop, and breathe in the air.
What is the aroma of your life right now?