Although our sense of smell is quite poor when compared to many animals, it is still highly sophisticated and humans can identify up to 10,000 different odour molecules, sometimes at a concentration of only one part to several billions parts of air.

The sense of smell is often described as the sense tied most closely to memory, with the ability to profoundly influence people’s ability to vividly recall past events and experiences from as long ago as our childhood. Read more…

The cinnamon tree belongs to the Lauraceae family and is a bushy, tropical evergreen that ranges in height from 5 metres (16ft) to 15 metres (45 ft) depending on origin. The bark is rough, scaly, and highly aromatic. When stripped off and dried, this fragrant bark forms the familiar cylindrical quills that are powdered to produce what is possibly the worlds oldest and best known spice. Read more…

Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic that fills the Season of Goodwill. It is experienced in the delightful decorations, glorious get-togethers with family and friends, and the sheer feeling of joy you get from giving and receiving gifts.

But ready or not, life steps up a few gears now as Christmas hurtles headlong towards us. And whilst it really should be a time for joy and celebration, the pressure of choosing the right presents for everybody, preparing the Christmas dinner and arranging all the parties is bound to send your stress levels soaring. Read more…