The Neuroscience of Scent and Memory

Before the mind can recall names or faces, it remembers smell. The jasmine of a Bangkok morning. Lemongrass rising from a grandmother’s soup. The syrupy sweetness of ripe mango. Neuroscience explains why: scent travels directly from the olfactory bulb to the amygdala and hippocampus — the brain’s emotional and memory centers.

For seniors navigating cognitive decline, this pathway bypasses logic and reaches pure feeling. Thai scent designer Sirinya Sriprariyawat calls it “emotional navigation” — the moment a familiar fragrance reminds a person of who they are. In memory care, this is not just poetic — it’s profoundly therapeutic.

Crafting Fragrance as Identity

Sirinya’s journey began in the flower markets of Bangkok, where she learned the language of scent while helping her mother blend oils in their home apothecary. Today, she creates small-batch perfumes from Thai botanicals — ylang-ylang, pandan, kaffir lime, blue ginger — each chosen not to impress, but to invoke.

“Every person has a scent story,” she says. “My job is to find it — and bring it back.” Her process begins with listening: to memories, to cultural cues, to the emotional textures of a guest’s life. The result is a fragrance that is less a cosmetic accessory and more a distilled piece of personal identity.

Scent in the Nayuran Environment

At Nayuran, these bespoke fragrances flow through suites, spa, and ritual spaces via discreet, high-tech ceiling systems that release gentle pulses throughout the day. Morning blends of citrus and rosemary invite energy and clarity. Evening scents like vetiver and tamarind flower encourage rest and soothe agitation.

Each room has a customized olfactory profile, attuned to the guest’s cultural background and emotional preferences. It’s an unseen layer of care that shapes how a space feels, making it more than an environment — it becomes a sensory companion.

Olfactory Therapy and Emotional Anchoring

Fragrance at Nayuran is never purely decorative — it’s a therapeutic tool. Research confirms that familiar aromas can reduce stress, stimulate appetite, and help reorient seniors in both time and place. In our spa, the Scent of Memory™ ritual combines guided breathing, warm compresses infused with legacy oils, and gentle storytelling.

As the body relaxes, the mind opens; memories surface not as forced recollections, but as natural arrivals. “When words are hard,” Sirinya says, “scent still speaks.” In this way, fragrance becomes an unspoken language — one that connects without demanding.

"When words are hard, scent still speaks. A single breath can carry a lifetime, reminding someone not just of a place or a moment, but of who they are."

— Sirinya Sriprariyawat, Thai Scent Designer & Founder of Aroma Heritage

Breathing In, Returning Home

In emotionally intelligent care, scent is more than a pleasant detail — it’s a guide. A guest may not remember the day of the week, but the faint trace of their signature fragrance can bring them back to a place of comfort and self-recognition.

Thanks to Sirinya’s craft, Nayuran doesn’t just smell beautiful — it smells familiar. It smells like home. And in that breath, something essential returns: not only memory, but meaning.