There's a scent you know. Resin. Damp moss. Cool needles in the early morning. You don't need to explain it. You recognize it instantly.
The Japanese have a word for it. Shinrin-Yoku. Forest bathing.
No sport. No hike. An immersion.
A word from Japan
The term is younger than you might think. In 1982, Tomohide Akiyama, then head of Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, coined it.
The country was growing fast. Cities grew louder. The forest receded into the distance.
Shinrin-Yoku was an invitation to return. Literally: a bath in the atmosphere of the forest. Not measuring. Not performing. Absorbing.
What happens during forest bathing
Forest bathing is a matter of the senses. You walk slowly. You stop. You listen.
Light falls in streaks through the canopies. The ground gives way. The air carries earth and resin.
What creates the scent of a coniferous forest are, among other things, terpenes — the aromatic molecules that trees release into the air. More on this in a separate article.
Nothing more is needed. A path. A silence. A breath.
The forest that remains
Not everyone has a coniferous forest on their doorstep. And not every Wednesday allows for a walk.
This is where the idea of TPdeux begins. A composition of terpenes, inspired by forest bathing, for your diffuser at home.
A drop. A subtle aroma in the room. The forest that remains — even if the day is different.
Frequently asked questions
What does Shinrin-Yoku mean? Literally "forest bathing": the mindful absorption of the forest atmosphere with all senses. The term was coined in Japan in 1982.
Do you have to go into the forest for it? Originally, yes. But the idea can be brought home on a small scale — through sound, light, and scent.
How do I bring the forest feeling into the room? With calm, minimal distraction, and a forest-inspired scent, for example, via a diffuser.
Sources
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"Shinrin-yoku", Wikipedia — on the term and its origin in 1982 (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinrin-yoku)
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Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan — Origin of the term Shinrin-Yoku
Note: This article describes the cultural concept of forest bathing and a forest-inspired aroma experience. It contains no health-related claims.
Forest bathing. For your home.
