Jeff Regan, End of the Line
How Nature Scents Can Boost Your Memory — and Your Well-Being
guest article by Wendy Figone
Here’s a science-backed reason to get outside: a 2023 study found that older adults exposed to gentle nightly scents improved their verbal memory by 226% compared to a control group. Even more remarkable, researchers saw structural changes in the brain’s uncinate fasciculus — a pathway tied to memory and emotional processing.
Read the study on the National Library of Medicine’s website.
This research shows that engaging your sense of smell — even briefly — activates and strengthens neural pathways that support memory, mood, and cognitive clarity. And one of the easiest, most enjoyable places to stimulate your sense of smell is in one of your San Mateo County Parks.
Our Parks Are Full of “Olfactory Enrichment”
Redwood forests, bay woodlands, open coastal hillsides, damp creek canyons and the oceanside wonder of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve all release their own natural aromas:
Redwood forest floor: Cool, earthy smell of damp soil, needles, moss, and decomposing wood- Eucalyptus: Crisp, menthol-like scent with a hint of citrus from leaves and bark.
- Bay laurel: Sharp, peppery, eucalyptus-like aroma from sun-warmed or crushed leaves.
- Ocean air: Fresh, salty breeze mixed with seaweed and coastal plant scents.
These scents don’t just smell amazing — research shows they can reduce stress, support nervous-system regulation, and keep memory pathways active and strong.
Try a “Nose Walk” on Your Next Visit
On your next outing to a San Mateo County park, turn your walk into a scent-focused adventure:
- Pause when something smells interesting.
- Take a slow, deep inhale and see what notes you can detect.
- Notice how your body shifts when you let yourself linger.
- Ask: How many distinct scents can I find today?
Each aroma you notice becomes a small act of forest bathing — and a moment of memory-building for your brain.
Your Invitation
This week, choose a San Mateo County park — Huddart, Wunderlich, Sam McDonald, Quarry, Edgewood, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, or any trail that calls to you — and take a Nose Walk.
Slow down. Breathe deeply. Let the landscape meet you through scent.
Your brain (and your nervous system) will thank you.
Wendy Figone is an ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) certified Forest Therapy Guide and myofascial therapist who integrates breathwork and embodied stress release into each walk. Through her practice, Somatic Ecotherapy, Wendy helps individuals and organizations reconnect with nature, restore balance, and cultivate resilience.
In partnership with the San Mateo County Parks Foundation, Wendy will be guiding Forest and Ocean Therapy Walks—experiences that are not about getting somewhere, but about fully being somewhere. Our next event with Wendy is coming up on January 30.
Graham McNicoll, West Union Creek After Rain