When Zero is Important

We have a product that we rarely talk about but it is one of the most important that we make - the Zero Balm. About 5 years ago I was approached by a woman who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, she'd had surgery and then was being treated with radiotherapy. About 2 weeks after starting the radiotherapy her skin was painful, dry, red, angry and itchy so she came to me for help.

 

I thought about it for a while, and it took me some time to work out why I was taking so long to formulate it, and then I realised it was all about the scent. I've worked with scent for decades, I love blending oils and resins to make something absolutely beautiful, that sings of a landscape but in this case I really hesitated.

 

Our sense of smell is really extraordinary, it's directly connected to the amygdala and limbic system, bypassing the brain’s cognitive function, we have an immediate, almost visceral response. Scent is an early warning system, it fast tracks the nervous system signalling safety or alert. Research from the University of Kent has demonstrated that certain odours specifically signal danger, such as decaying tissue, smoke and chemical irritants which can initiate fear, anxiety or avoidant behaviours. 

 

What is of particular concern is that fragrance oils (as opposed to pure essential oils) used in some candles, room sprays and other scented products such as fabric softener can trigger exactly the same danger alert response, meaning that many people are constantly in a heightened state of fight or flight unaware that the scent choices they make may be increasing, rather than reducing their anxiety.

 

Equally some scents soothe and relax - Bergamot, Chamomile and Sweet Marjoram essential oils, all of which act slightly differently, are used in our Sleep Cream and Calm & Tranquil Balm and are really great for calming the mind. 

 

Beyond physiological action, scent can act as a strong reminder of a place. Whenever I smell Hibiscrub, it reminds me of the Special Care Baby Unit and all the difficult memories associated with that flood into my mind. It is powerful, unstoppable and immediate.

 

Of people, the scent of Roses reminds me of my mother who absolutely loved them. These are the scents that stimulate feelings of wellbeing and contentment, they are routed through the limbic system, the brain's centre for memory and emotion, integrating feelings and experience, emotion into memories.  When our Roses are in full flower it's like a trip down memory lane, a moment to savour in the warmth and protection of the greenhouse and remember my wildly creative mother.

 

Scent is so powerful, it can instantly transport you to a time, place or experience - positive or negative. So the balm I finally made had no scent at all and no distinctive label. The Zero Balm is simply the most beautifully healing oils and remedies designed to be used at a time of crisis and then forgotten, leaving no scent trail, no memory, no reminder. It felt really important that the emotional experience of cancer treatment should be managed by people in their own time and that through our work, we shouldn't create something that would invite those memories to mind unbidden, creating a sense of vulnerability whenever the scent triggered it. 

 

Being a maker carries such a responsibility, not just for the products we make and their effects on the skin but also to be mindful of the anticipatable consequences of our formulations and to think carefully about how we mitigate those - it's about thoughtful support.