On one of the last warm days in September, we were guests at the Parkaue for the opening of the season. Under the title "Are we still in our right mind?", we invited children and young people to discover their relationship with nature not with their heads, but with their noses.

Right from the start, there was a playful magic in the air. We asked the question: "When you think of nature, what do you smell?" The answers came quickly and vividly. Again and again, the image of the forest came up, as did the smell of the air shortly after it has rained. The image of moisture is very dominant. Mushrooms and moss were also mentioned. It also reminds us that we are at the end of September, transitioning into autumn. One child laughed and shouted "dog poo!", prompting a parent to immediately censor the comment.

Smell this!

In the next part, the participants were allowed to smell three different scents in jars they had brought with them:

1. Mouldy and rotting

The first smell transported many participants to dark, damp places. It smelled like "a cellar where old food has been forgotten" or "a compost heap where fruit is slowly rotting". Some were reminded of leaves lying in mud, others spoke of rotting apples or organic waste. Even the image of alcohol-soaked fruit came to mind. The participants agreed that the scent spoke of transience, of things that pass away and return to the cycle of nature. It was a smell that was rather repulsive, but at the same time reminded us that decay is also part of life.

2. Herbs and summer

The second scent was completely different: Here, images of gardens and herb beds, fresh flowers, lemon balm and mint came to mind. One person was reminded of lemon cake on a summer's day, another saw themselves drinking tea, cosy and warm. Suddenly, you were standing in the middle of a sunny garden, feeling the summer, smelling the damp earth, perhaps even hearing bees buzzing. Kitchen images also appeared: oregano, Maggi seasoning, a herb garden where one could sit and feel at ease. The scent was alive between the cooking pot and the experience of nature, and we recognise that such positive associations also make participants see themselves more as part of nature.

3. Fire and smoke

The third smell immediately brought back memories of fire. Some thought of a warming campfire, bread baked on a stick, or clothes that still smelled of smoke for days afterwards. Others spoke of ashes and burnt wood. But threatening images also came to mind: the smoke of a forest fire, the destruction that fire can cause. The smell was ambivalent. It could evoke cosiness and community, but also fear of loss and destruction.

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Emotions

The various scent examples suggest that they did not only appeal to the nose. What was smelled was clearly associated with feelings: smoke was reminiscent of summer evenings outdoors, herbs evoked a sense of security in the garden, and the scent of rain brought peace and contentment. Many of the images depict moments in which nature brings happiness and well-being. A holiday memory was also evoked: in a garden far away, there was still the scent of mint, and the child felt transported there.

Other smells triggered mixed feelings. Fire warmed and made them nervous at the same time. The moor was mysterious and eerie at the same time. The forest, herbs and moss were also described as partly calming and partly frightening.

And then there were the smells that almost exclusively evoked aversion: compost, musty cellars, mould and rot. The organic waste bin in the yard smells disgusting, but the smell is familiar. Maggi also came off surprisingly badly. And with a smile, but just as clearly, children mentioned smells such as animal or dog faeces: nervous, silly, angry. This showed that not every scent evokes pleasant memories, even though these smells are also part of the natural cycle.

Conclusion

The experimental setup showed that olfactory information is transmitted directly to the limbic system. This direct connection explains why smells can trigger intense emotional responses – such as feelings of well-being when smelling fresh grass or disgust when smelling something rotten.

In the final round, we talked about why it is important to experience nature not only as a beautiful backdrop, but also to perceive it in all its diversity. Smells in particular make us aware of how closely we are connected to natural processes: "Without nature, you can't breathe," said one child, while another added, "It's also very, very important for animals."

The protective function of the senses was emphasised several times: in the past, they helped to identify poisonous substances, and today they help us to detect spoiled food, for example. Others emphasised the importance of nature as a playground where you smell, feel and think differently than in the city. The idea that forests should not be cut down without careful consideration also found its place.

Smells broaden our sensory spectrum and create a deeper, more authentic connection to our environment. Walking through the forest and taking in its characteristic scent makes us feel connected and emotionally moved. The discussion also touched on what it means when we only know animals and animal products from the supermarket – without the smell of the barn when collecting eggs or the scent of freshly picked strawberries.

A certain natural smell can suddenly evoke childhood memories or earlier experiences of nature. This effect is called the Proust effect and describes how a smell can suddenly bring an entire scene with feelings, images and thoughts to mind. This emotionally charges our perception of nature and intensifies it subjectively.

Overall, the discussion showed how smells immediately open up access to nature and how much they shape memories and feelings. Smells are a key – they open doors to stories, emotions and experiences that illustrate why it is so important to perceive, understand and protect nature.