Designing Wellness: The Power of Scent, Story, and Seasonal Connection

By Rachel Schemmerling|Timeless Living

As the winter holidays draw near, our homes begin to shift. The light changes, the air cools, and suddenly our living spaces become more than rooms—they become places we return to for comfort, memory, and a sense of belonging.

This week, I had the joy of stepping into that spirit early when I joined the local talk show Silver Linings on Valley Shore Community Television (VSCTV). During the episode—airing in December 2025—I shared one of my favorite seasonal rituals: my Winter Holiday Simmer Pot recipe. But more importantly, I shared the deeper story behind why scent, memory, and community play such essential roles in designing a well-lived, well-loved life.

A Show That Feels Like Coming Home

The hosts of Silver Linings are some of the kindest, most gracious people you could hope to meet. Their warmth and genuine curiosity make every conversation feel like sitting down for tea with an old friend. If you haven’t tuned in before, I highly recommend it—not just for my episode, but for the way the show consistently celebrates creativity, community, and living with intention.

📺 Watch on VSCTV Channel 19 Mondays at 5:00 PM
or stream on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or YouTube

A Winter Simmer for the Soul

There’s something deeply restorative about tending to a pot quietly simmering on the stove. A few orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary—and suddenly your home is wrapped in warmth, both literal and emotional.

For me, this is one of the simplest ways to design the atmosphere of a room. Scent is a subtle form of storytelling, a pathway to calm, comfort, and joy. Our olfactory system—the part of the brain responsible for scent—is directly tied to memory and emotion. That’s why certain smells can instantly transport us to childhood kitchens, holiday gatherings, or long-forgotten moments of peace. Ask any essential oil expert and they’ll echo this: scent can shift your mood, your energy, even your sense of presence. While I’m far from an expert, I often diffuse blends of lavender, orange, sage, or rosemary when I’m designing or reflecting. The right aroma can change the atmosphere of a space almost instantly.

Scent, Story, and the Sacred

Scent has been sacred to humanity for centuries. Native and Indigenous communities have long used fragrant herbs, resins, and smokes—sage, cedar, sweetgrass—not only to cleanse, but to connect: with themselves, with one another, and with the natural world. My mother, Dale Carson, wrote often about these traditions, weaving her heritage into daily rituals that honored beauty, Earth, and wellbeing. She taught me that beauty isn’t decorative—it’s a form of gratitude. A way of saying: I see the world, and I honor it.

Women, Community, and the Design of Wellbeing

As women, we carry an extraordinary ability to create sanctuaries—not just for ourselves, but for everyone who enters our home. When we gather, when we share stories, when we engage the senses, we restore balance to our lives and to the spaces we tend.

A simmer pot bubbling on the stove.
A fresh cup of tea.
A candle glowing quietly on a winter night.

These small rituals are reminders that wellness design isn’t about perfection. It’s about feeling good—safe, rooted, nourished.

May This Season Be Warm and Well

As we move deeper into the winter season, I hope your home fills with fragrance and comfort. I hope your heart opens to connection. And I hope your spaces—however simple or elaborate—invite in a sense of wellbeing.

Here’s to a season designed with intention, warmth, and the beauty of everyday ritual.