The NOTEbook — science of scent

Honey is one of nature’s most incredible and versatile gifts. Throughout history, honey has been used in a variety of ways, ranging from nourishing skin treatment to delicious natural sweetener. Stored in wax structures called honeycombs, honey is produced by honey bees and gets its distinctive flavor and sweetness from the sugary plant nectars of the flowers the bees frequent. Honey can vary in color and flavor, depending on the plants it was sourced from. Some of the most common varieties include orange blossom, lavender, clover, buckwheat, wildflower, and manuka. Honey has been used for thousands of years - in...

Your lips are always on the move: they talk, they sip, they laugh, they kiss, they smile - and that’s only a fraction of what they can do in a day! With all that work to do, it’s no wonder why they can feel a little tired. If your lips are like most, they can probably do with a little T-L-C! At Noteology, we love treating our lips to spa days of their own. Not just because it feels great, but it’s important for your overall lip longevity. Lips get their shape in part from collagen, a critical protein. But...

For troubled tummies or senses in need of invigoration, there’s nothing better than the scent of peppermint. As a cross between watermint and spearmint, this indigenous and highly aromatic herb to Europe and the Middle East is now widely spread and cultivated around the globe. The use of peppermint for medicinal and aromatic purposes dates back thousands of years - to 1,000 B.C. In fact, historical accounts dating back to ancient Chinese and Japanese folk medicine mention mint as a remedy in teas to soothe digestion and in the exploration of Egyptian pyramids, peppermint oil was found. Additionally, in Greek...

Our sense of smell is so important for telling and understand our own life stories. We use scent to build memories, recognize warning signs, and explore the world around us. But when it comes to the creation of new life, scent is an amazing component of birth and the bond between mother and baby. Every mother will claim that birth has a specific scent, but research into the scent of giving birth has been a challenge. While it’s hard to define that specific scent, which many describe as musky or potent, the hormonal effects are well-noted. Some medical professionals, birthing...

When you’re expecting a new arrival, your body goes through a wonderful series of changes. Every day is a new journey and a new adventure, and for some expectant mothers, a whole new world of scent! Many pregnant women experience altered or heightened senses of smell, which can change your perception of the notes you normally gravitate toward. It’s actually amazing how it happens! When you become pregnant, the blood flow throughout your body increases by up to 50%, causing messages normally transmitted through your blood to arrive faster and in larger quantities to the brain. Plus, areas of your...