Essential Awakenings & MindScent Sensory Kits Are Radical Innovations

“The smells (in MindScent®) added another dimension to therapy activities focusing on increasing mean length of utterance and expansion of descriptors.” - A. DeRuvo, SLP, Staten Island, NY

MindScent® is patent pending, and the first multi-sensory kit of its kind.

“For people with memory impairment, sensory input is a welcome thing.” - Beth Liebowitz, Program Dir. The Greens at Greenwich

Essential Awakenings® kits are designed to help stimulate the sense of smell and recall of memories for people living with dementia, encourage communication, storytelling and socialization.

“I was worried that I would forever lose my sense of smell, but after utilizing the smell training, it has helped me a lot.” - C. Brand, Denver, CO (recovering from COVID-19)

The Dr. Rachel Herz Smell Training Guide is exclusive to this site with the purchase of an Essential Awakenings® Kit.

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Make sure to watch a short video of an Essential Awakenings® Session Below: The Smell of Cinnamon

Essential Awakenings® Smell & Memory Double Set With Dr. Rachel Herz Smell Training Guide

$120.00

Testimonials

"Hi Ruth, Thanks for reaching out, roughly 3 months ago I fully lost taste and smell. My smell and taste slightly improved a week later but weeks later I didn’t see much of an improvement. Since I have been doing smell training it has helped me out a LOT. I can now almost taste normally but my smell isn’t fully there yet, I am hopeful that I will fully regain my senses soon though. But overall I really feel the smell training has helped me out. Thanks again for reaching out. You can use my statement as proof that smell training really does help. I also recommend a few other people to purchase your smell kit. Thank you very much, I was worried that I would forever lose my senses but after utilizing the smell training it has helped me a lot."
Cody B, Denver CO

"I bought the Essential Awakenings® Kit as a Christmas gift for my grandfather with Alzheimer's. It ended up being a gift for the whole family! The scents are very distinguishable and the conversation cards that came with the kit helped us to guide the discussion. Thank you Ruth for going above and beyond making sure that I had the gift in time for Christmas! It was true joy!"
Jacqui A., NYC

Essential Awakenings® with Ruth is a fun and important experience for residents at any facility. The scents that Ruth creates elicit memories for our residents, and inspire socialization through conversation about what scents appeal to which people... I am honored to incorporate Essential Awakenings into our programming; it adds so much to the sensory experience we hope to offer those in their last stage of life.
Beth Liebowitz, Program Director & Dance Therapist, The Greens At Greenwich, CT

"I use this kit to help me pause, reflect and to help strengthen my sense of smell. To get to the point of smelling five out of six scents, it has taken me a little over five weeks. Never knew how much I took my sense of smell for granted. I hope this kit helps you and helps you bond further with your family."
Rosanel Rosario, Aneurysm Survivor, New York City

"Ruth has enhanced the lives of our residents with her smelling sessions. The scents have helped them to remember special times in their lives and to discuss it in a group. It is a truly therapeutic and relaxing hour. I am grateful for Ruth's program.”
Elanit Linder, Elder Care Professional and ReM(i) Culture CEO, Stamford, CT

"Morningside of Springdale wanted to take the time to thank you for such a wonderful event. So many of the residents were reminded of times gone by with the smells you presented. I very much enjoyed the opportunity you offered our area with you amazing skills. Please come visit anytime and bring your smell goods for memories.”
Jeanie Melear, Lifestyle 360 Director, Morningside of Springdale, AR

Our elders living in our home have enjoyed the smell and memory kits. It has been a great way to interact with them and reminisce about what these smells mean to them. I really appreciate your time with us in May. Thanks again!
Gretchen Houchin, Director of Community Development, Nazareth Home, Louisville, KY

Jacqui’s Video Testimonial. Click Here

About Cinnamon: Video From An Essential Awakenings® Smelling session at river house adult day center Below

Smelling Session at River House Adult Care Center

Thank you to River House Adult Day Center, located in Cos Cob, CT for inviting me to share the Essential Awakenings® Smell Therapy Session with their clientele! Their favorite smell prompts have been the smell of apples (baking apple pies, picking apples with their family in the fall).

The Scent Guru Blog

MindScent®: The WHY, The HOW And The WHO

September 01, 2020

I’ve been taking a motivational course for entrepreneurs and during one of the modules, I received one of the most important, simple takeaways from any course or webinar I’ve taken during the pandemic: Don't forget the “WHY”. I find myself saying those words out loud and even my sleep! The “WHY” should be so simple, but yet it’s often easy to loose sight of.

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Happiness Is Helping Others

July 27, 2020

This is happiness: "I lost my sense of smell and taste when I had COVID in March. Several months later, I was surprised to still not be able to smell and taste. The world seems a bit flat and uninteresting without those two senses. Luckily, I contacted Ruth and she sent me her wonderful smelling kit. The variety of scents and the easy use of the applicators motivated me to use the kit fairly regularly. A doctor explained it to me like this: When you injure your leg, you do physical therapy to regain your strength and agility. This is like physical therapy for your sense of smell. Both taste and smell have improved greatly with the use of the oils, but taste is definitely in the lead. I've still got a ways to go until I fully recover, but this lovely kit has speeded up the process for sure. Many thanks to Ruth and The Scent Guru Group!"
- Cristina Y., L.C.S.W. Connecticut

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MindScent® Is a "Scentsational" Discovery & Educational Kit for Children & Families

May 01, 2020

While MindScent® Smell.Discover.Connect kit was initially developed for SLPs and educators, it can also be a great learning and discovery activity the entire family can enjoy together during this challenging time of "Stay Home, Stay Safe".

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With Vanessa, a Non-Verbal Autistic Woman Matching the Scents To Their Visual Clue Cards

During the MindScent® Development Phase, 2018