SWGSweetwater Groves Residential Assisted Living
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Memory Studio · Late stage
Late stageCommon Ground10–15 minutes2 pages to print
Scents That Still Find Their Way In
Smell reaches memory by the shortest road of any sense. Six safe household scents, one at a time, and what to watch for.
Scents That Still Find Their Way In
Smell reaches memory by the shortest road of any sense. Six safe household scents, one at a time, and what to watch for.
Start with citrus
Six safe scents to try, one at a time
- Orange or lemon peel, torn open in front of them
- Ground coffee in an open jar — not brewed, just the grounds
- Vanilla on a cotton pad
- A warm towel straight from the dryer, laundry soap and all
- Cedar or pine — a few needles crushed between your fingers
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, or whatever their kitchen smelled like in December
What to watch for
A slower breath. A turn of the head toward the scent. A hand that lifts. These are answers, and they count as much as any sentence would. Write down which one landed so the next person who visits can start there.