From Wonder to Well-Being: Exploring the Power of Scent

At the time, I saw smell as a secondary sense. Later however, I discovered its power to evoke emotions, enhance memories, and support wellbeing. I never imagined scent would become essential to managing my own mental health – and an innovation to help others.

Fast-forward to today, what began as a creative experiment has evolved into Scent Bubble® – a patented wearable scent technology designed to ease anxiety, balance mood, and offer a sensory sanctuary for those struggling with mental health challenges.

After graduating, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and later ADHD. My life became a cycle of highs and lows, with sensory processing challenges leaving my nervous system in overdrive.

Through personal experiences, I discovered the power of scent to help regulate emotions. Neroli eased my anxiety, rosemary boosted focus, and ‘functional fragrances’ helped me regain balance. Scent became an anchor during times of overwhelm, and this realisation set me on a mission – to create wearable technology that delivers scent when it’s needed most.

The Wonder Book, in many ways, laid the foundation for what came next. Driven by curiosity, personal struggles, and a passion for scent, I am developing Scent Bubble®, a wearable device that releases personalised scents on demand – providing an adaptive ‘scent shield’ against stress, anxiety, and sensory overload.

Being awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2013 gave me the chance to explore how sensory fashion could be used as a tool for stress management. Since then, the focus has shifted more directly to anxiety management. With NIHR i4i funding and collaborations with Health Innovation East (the innovation arm of the NHS), Scent Bubble® is now positioned as a potential breakthrough in mental health care.

Recently, the Wonder Book was showcased at TANK Gallery during London Fashion Week as part of an exhibition celebrating 50 years of the Fashion Communication course at Central Saint Martins. Returning as an alumna was a powerful reminder of where it all began. In the early 1990s, while struggling with my mental health, my tutor Lee Widdows urged me to experiment with sensory elements and humour, moving fashion communication beyond traditional print media.

The Wonder Book explored emotion and sensory response – surprise, awe, joy, curiosity, and wonder – using touch, sound, and vision (but smell was missing). Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, it showcased multi-sensory fashion features based on Lewis Caroll’s quirky “Eat Me, Drink Me…” theme. I envisioned adding “Smell Me”, but, at the time, the technology didn’t exist beyond scratch ‘n’ sniff. This frustration sparked a lifelong pursuit to fill this sensory gap.

What began as a creative fashion experiment led to my PhD in Interactive Olfactory Surfaces at the Royal College of Art (1997) and later progressed into innovative research in wearable scent technology. Today, Scent Bubble® has won awards from NIHR and Innovate UK for its potential to improve mental health support and advance sustainable fragrance delivery. By seamlessly integrating scent into daily life, Scent Bubble® provides an accessible, non-invasive way to manage mental health challenges.

My journey – from creative exploration to mental health innovation – proves creativity and science can work together to drive transformation. The Wonder Book was just the beginning. Now, Scent Bubble® could provide a practical tool for those living with anxiety and sensory challenges.

As I continue developing this technology, I’m also planning another Wonder Book as part of my wider vision for sensory fashion, while working closely with NHS partners to ensure scent-based interventions are accessible to those who need them most. The journey isn’t over yet, but one thing is certain – sometimes, the most unexpected ideas lead to the most profound innovations.