Forest Bathing: Finding Calm in Nature

It’s been a few years since we last talked about forest bathing and while sorting through old travel photos on my phone recently, I came across one of a memorable holiday with my family in a forest just outside Kuala Lumpur.

It reminded me how restorative that day felt - the stillness, the scent of the trees, and how time in nature can instantly calm the mind and body. So I thought it was time to resurrect our Blog - (thank you to Christelle Baxter, who wrote the original piece on this beautiful practice).

“Forest bathing,” or Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese-founded natural healing method developed in the early 1980s and introduced as part of Japan’s national health programme.

The term literally means “immersing oneself in the forest and soaking in the atmosphere through all the senses.”

What Is Forest Bathing?

At its heart, forest bathing means entering a woodland with the intention to connect - being calm and quiet among the trees, breathing deeply and taking in the natural world around you. A timeless practice rediscovered - one rooted in the healing power of nature.

The Benefits of Forest Bathing

Time spent among trees has proven benefits for both physical and emotional wellbeing. Research shows it can:

• Reduce stress and lower blood pressure

• Improve mood and boost creativity

• Strengthen the immune system

• Aid recovery from illness

• Promote calm, clarity, and mindfulness

Nature truly has the power to reset and restore us - just by slowing down and allowing our senses to awaken.

A Lifelong Connection with Green Spaces

I’m fortunate to live in an area surrounded by greenery in Kent, close to Surrey - the UK’s most wooded county. Sunday walks were part of our family routine and that love of being outdoors has stayed with me ever since.

Even in today’s fast-paced world, I think many of us share that deep-rooted pull toward nature - the instinct to seek out fresh air, space, and stillness when life feels too full.

Bringing the Forest Home

Of course, we can’t always escape to the woods, but scent allows us to recreate that experience at home.

The inspiration for our Forest Bathing collection came a little closer to home. During the early months of lockdown, when travel was briefly allowed again, my husband and I spent three nights in a treehouse surrounded by ancient woodland. The air was cool and resinous, filled with the scent of pine, cedar, and damp earth - grounding, peaceful and unforgettable. That experience stayed with me and later became the creative spark for the scent you now know as Forest Bathing - a blend designed to capture the essence of that quiet, healing time in nature.

Our Forest Bathing Candle  and Forest Bathing Wax Melts are blended with Juniper Needle, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Black Spruce, and Siberian Fir — evoking the cool, earthy freshness of a woodland after rain.

And for those who love the pure essence of the forest, our new Forest Bathing Essential Oil (10ml) captures the same grounding aroma - perfect for your diffuser - Close your eyes, breathe deeply and let the scent transport you to the stillness of the forest.

A Final Thought

Revisiting this topic reminded me that sometimes, the simplest things - a walk among trees, a moment of stillness, or a familiar scent - can have the most profound effect on how we feel.

Whether outdoors or through fragrance, forest bathing offers us a beautiful reminder to pause, breathe and reconnect with nature - wherever we are.