Terre noire : Chapter 1

In this first chapter, I felt the need to create a synergy that energizes gently, clears mental fog and reminds me of the long walks in the forest back in Midland, MI.

Trees have forever been my go-to whenever I feel unbalanced, nervous and upset. The effect on forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) has been proven to be very effective on human health.

I selected the synergy of Black Spruce (Picea mariana), Bergamot (Citrus bergamia), Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) based on their complementary chemical profiles and therapeutic interactions. Together, these oils create an elevated sensory experience: the scent of a tranquil forest retreat.

A forest depth that grounds the spirit, sharpens focus, and elevates daily rituals

Black Spruce lends emotional strength and clarity, known for its restorative qualities that help reduce fatigue and tension.

The crisp woodsy aroma from Black Spruce essential oil comes from the constituent pinene. There have been studies that Alpha-pinene supports sleep. It is also helpful to release emotional blocks. Black Spruce essential oil is rich in bornyl acetate, known for its calming and restorative effects on the nervous system. It provides grounding support, easing anxiety, stress, and muscular pain while promoting respiratory relief and restful sleep.

Bergamot contributes monoterpenes and esters with uplifting and anxiolytic properties.

(Anxiolytic properties mean a substance helps reduce anxiety by calming the brain’s overactive signals, mainly through boosting calming chemicals like GABA).

Think of your brain as a car: anxiety is like the gas pedal being pressed too hard, making everything feel fast and out of control. Anxiolytics act like the brake pedal, they help slow things down and bring your thoughts and feelings back to a calmer state.

Bergamot essential oil uplifts mood, reduces stress and pain, and balances emotions with its bright, febrifuge, and anti-spasmodic effects.​

Cedarwood provides sesquiterpenes that promote grounding and respiratory supportcenters the mind, offering a grounding calm that supports inner stability and focus. Cedarwood essential oil centers the mind with its calming, anti-inflammatory properties, soothing tension, supporting focus, and aiding skin and respiratory health.​

Rosemary essential oil is unique in its biochemical specificity as it has 6+ known chemotypes: ct. 1.8 cineole, ct. camphor, ct. alpha-pinene, ct. verbenone, ct. bornyl acetate.

Chemotypes are essential oils that are extracted from one botanical species however they have distinct differences in their chemical composition. Chemotypes can differ based on environmental conditions such as water, light, soil, weather, temperature, precipitation, altitude as well as geographic area.

Rosemary’s 1,8‑cineole enhances cognitive performance and mental alertness.

This essential oil also helps relieve muscle pain and respiratory congestion, and invigorates with its antioxidant and expectorant qualities.

Psysiological effects of touching wood with the palm

I found this study super interesting. After creating Chapter 1 of the Terre noire collection, I drenched about 10-15 wooden beads in a bowl with 5 to 10 drops of the synergy.

It felt so relieving to touch the beads while watching TV, smelling and reactivating the aroma. Once absorbed, body heat or air movement helps release the scent slowly over hours or days.

Passive diffusers ideal for small spaces like cars, closets or workspaces or symply wear them as bracelets or necklaces

Wooden diffuser beads and/or lava beads serve as a porous carrier that absorbs essential oils and gradually releases aromatic molecules, creating gentle, continuous inhalation throughout the day.

Inhaled essential oils have been shown in controlled studies to modulate brain regions and stress hormones linked with mood, relaxation, and sleep, so the bracelet is essentially a convenient, passive way to benefit from those inhaled aromas without electricity or heat.

Tips to extend the scent life

• Keep wooden or lava beads in a sealed container when not in use.

• Gently rub or warm between hands to release more scent, this helps release trapped natural oils still in the wood.

• Consider refreshing with a drop of matching essential oil if aroma fades.

Terre noire - Chapter 1