Abstract
This study explores how participants suffering from stress-related mental disorders describe their perception, interaction, and lived experience of garden smellscape during their nature-based rehabilitation. Natural elements, and especially nature smells, have been found to have a profound effect on stress reduction, suggesting an interesting link between odor in nature and stress reduction. The study was conducted as a longitudinal case-study, running over a period of 5 years, investigating participants’ perceptions of a garden smellscape, after completing a 12-weeks nature-based rehabilitation in Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden, Sweden. All participants were treated for stress-related mental disorders. Data were collected through retrospective semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed according to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results revealed in what way nature odor (odor in nature) evoked associations, emotions, and physical reactions and provide examples of how nature scents function as a catalyst for sensory awareness and memories. Findings supported the understanding that experiencing the smell of plants, especially pelargonium, may facilitate stress reduction and support mental recovery in a real-life context. The results of the study can be used for several purposes; thus, they are relevant for actors within the development of nature-based therapy, as well as stakeholders within the horticultural industry.
Highlights
Stress and stressful life situations can have a negative effect on a person’s executive functions as well as sensory system, in terms of increased or reduced sensitivity (Jonsdottir et al, 2013)
In a recent Virtual Reality (VR) study on urban smellscape, Hedblom et al (2019) identified that odor has a greater impact on stress reduction than visual and auditory stimuli
The results indicate a specific positive link between sensory odor experiences with pelargoniums, described as rose, lemon, and citrus, and stress reduction as the participants intentionally used the smell of plants for stress reduction, both in the garden and at home
Summary
Stress and stressful life situations can have a negative effect on a person’s executive functions (e.g., memory, cognitive performance, and mood) as well as sensory system, in terms of increased or reduced sensitivity (Jonsdottir et al, 2013). When exploring activities and treatments that are considered to alleviate the negative effects of stress, nature and natural elements have been identified as possessing qualities that may support well-being and mitigate the effects of stress This link between nature and human well-being, especially the understanding of how different elements of nature underpin a positive impact, is of great interest. In a recent Virtual Reality (VR) study on urban smellscape, Hedblom et al (2019) identified that odor has a greater impact on stress reduction than visual and auditory stimuli. They highlighted that smellscapes in urban settings are an important aspect for human health and well-being. The understanding of the mechanisms behind the identified phenomena, especially the significance of odor perception, is less well researched (Henshaw, 2014, p. 5; Hedblom et al, 2019)
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