ÇaFleureBon Behind the Bottle: Ruth Sutcliffe of The Scent Guru Group + Scent Therapy™ CALM Giveaway

  Ruth Sutcliffe of The Scent Guru Group

Ruth Sutcliffe of The Scent Guru Group via Ruth Sutcliffe

Therapeutic fragrance entrepreneur Ruth Sutcliffe is a consummate professional well-known to many perfumers: for 35 years she was a fragrance designer for Coty and other large corporations, developing products ranging from the scent of Windex Blue to celebrity perfumes for Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Tim McGraw, Halle Berry, and Celine Dion. We first met many years ago at Elements Showcase in NYC; Ruth was on a panel and spoke of the importance of fragranced products in everyday life – citing laundry detergents in third world countries as an example. One might not be able to purchase scented soaps or other luxuries, but they can take pride in the fact that their families sleep on clean and fragrant linens. I was deeply moved by this, and have made it a point to follow Ruth’s exploits since that day.

Ruth Sutcliffe being awarded Dementia Friends Champion in 2018

Ruth Sutcliffe being awarded Dementia Friends Champion in 2018 via The Scent Guru Blog

The development of therapeutic scent became very personal when Ruth’s mother was diagnosed with dementia. Throughout my career in neuroscience, I can attest that one of the first telltale signs of dementia is the loss of smell, which often presages memory loss. In 2017, after her mother’s passing, Ruth began to develop Essential Awakenings® Smell and Memory Kits – an enjoyable way to encourage the elderly to retrieve memories and elicit conversation via such familiar aromas as chocolate, mint, or grass. It became evident that many underserved populations could also benefit – and speech and occupational therapists began to incorporate scent strategies in an effort to better communicate with the intellectually impaired, people on the autism spectrum, etc. A more inclusive aid was then developed, the Mind Scent® Multi-Sensory Communication & Educational Tool Kit, complete with visual clue and fact cards – which has been helpful for the non-verbal population.

Greenwich Sentinel article on Ruth Sutcliff and COVID-19

Ida Meister: Was your Scent Therapy™ CALM Essential Oil composed during the pandemic? Please share any factors which quickened your desire to create such a therapeutic olfactory adjuvant.

Ruth Sutcliffe: Scent Therapy™ CALM Essential Oil Perfume was that one particular fragrance that was developed for me back in 2018, but I did not launch it because I was in the midst of developing and manufacturing MindScent®. I had kept the fragrance oil in my archives back in Connecticut. When I moved to Atlanta in 2021, I brought it with me and decided to resurrect it in July, 2022.  I realized that not only I, but millions of other people have suffered from anxiety throughout the pandemic. Its effects are lingering amongst people of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds and professions. The decision was made after having had conversations with holistic medicine practitioners about health professionals suffering PTSD due to what they have had to endure during COVID-19 – as well as teens who have been separated from their friends during lockdowns. A recent CNN survey stated that 90% of people feel that emotional health here in the U.S. is at a crisis.

Please tell us about the perfumer Raman Patel, who collaborated on Scent Therapy™ CALM. How did your paths cross?

Ruth Sutcliffe: Mr. Raman Patel is a co-founder of Custom Essence, now part of Givaudan. I met him with other key members of the Custom Essence staff while working on some organic fragrances for a brand I was consulting for in 2018. I spoke of my interest in how scent can be beneficial to us for wellbeing – and one subject led to another.

Ruth Sutcliffe (middle), holding a smelling session with Sunny and Sheldon at The Greens At Greenwich

 Ruth Sutcliffe (middle), holding a smelling session with Sunny and Sheldon at The Greens At Greenwich photo via Scent Guru Blog

What would you like to share with our readers and viewers regarding olfaction and your own mission?

Ruth Sutcliffe: I’ve always been aware of the importance of the sense of smell and its connection to emotional wellbeing, memory recall, and how it can change our lives for the better. I am very proud that I have been a “pioneer” in the areas for scent and memory recall for people living with dementia, and for the sensory kits I have developed for speech language pathologists working with people who are often ignored and shunned by many people.

What changes would you like to see in the fragrance industry with regard to therapeutic value? Goals? Education?

Ruth Sutcliffe: I will continue the path that I have made for myself, and will be taking on some speaking engagements outside of the “core” industry – such as Esxence in Milan on April 1st of this year. I will continue to go to professional conferences where my core audience goes – ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association). My goals and focus are to get into hospitals, autism centers, schools, and assisted living communities, where I have already placed my footing.

Would you care to share with us what new concepts might follow your current body of work?

 Ruth Sutcliffe: I definitely want to expand on another Ayurvedic formulation that’s 100% natural for focus. This past July I developed the concept for a line of fragrances that has been in the back of my mind for decades, based on a psychological concept I studied in college. It will include 5 fragrances. I have registered for a federal trademark, have built a website, approved fragrances, bought the packaging and lined up the filler. I am waiting for that right moment to push the “go” button – which will hopefully be in March or April.

We at ÇaFleureBon would like to thank you, Ruth – for your contributions over the years in the service of olfaction and wellbeing. We look forward to your future endeavors, and appreciate your taking the time out of your hectic schedule to share your work and thoughts with us.

Ruth Sutcliff Scent Therapy Calm

Scent Therapy Calm courtesy of Ruth Sutcliffe

Scent Therapy™ CALM

Created by master perfumer and natural product chemist Raman Patel, ScentTherapy™ CALM is a beautiful example of how Ayurvedic perfumery can be gracious, soothing and restorative at the same time. It is in oil-based format, which in itself means that wearing it (or applying it to the ceramic diffuser which accompanies the rollerball) is an intimate and discreet experience. Many of the components address a vata dosha imbalance, which is manifested by anxiety, agitation, palpitations, and sleep disturbance: this might explain why CALM’s chosen carrier oil is almond oil, which is preferable for those individuals who demonstrate an abundance of vata characteristics.

Every aromatic component employed in CALM is there for a purpose: the uplifting, anti-depressant attributes of lemon, orange, sage, eucalyptus, cardamom, cinnamon, and geranium; ginger is the ‘oil of empowerment’, and vetiver is the ‘oil of tranquility’. Patchouli is grounding; coriander, labdanum and olibanum promote relaxation. Basil is known to promote calm and uplift the mind; spikenard, also known as jatamansi – may improve one’s overall mood and outlook. These fragrant elements coalesce in a subtle alchemy as they foster a profound sense of repose and equanimity. CALM does possess a somewhat medicinal scent, due primarily to terpenic eucalyptus, but it never overwhelms the wearer.

Scent Therapy™ Calm Notes: essential oils of sweet almond (carrier oil), lemon, orange, eucalyptus, sage, patchouli, geranium, coriander, olibanum, cinnamon, cardamom, vetiver, ginger, cistus labdanum, basil, spikenard (jatamansi)

Fragrance and diffuser provided by Ruth Sutcliffe – many thanks!  My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

 Thanks to the generosity of founder Ruth Sutcliffe of The Scent Guru Group, we may offer one Scent Therapy™ CALM Essential Oil Perfume Rollerball with Ceramic Diffuser to one CaFleureBon registered reader in the USA ONLY. If you are not sure if you are registered, click here (you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible please leave a comment with what you found interesting about Ruth Sutcliffe answers, her mission, do you feel that emotional health and  wellbeing is in crisis and ScentTherapy™ CALM

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11 comments

  • Cle0tara says:

    I love the idea of the sensory kits! Beautiful fragrances helped get me through a hard time, and I adore scent memories from specific trips or times in my life. I also do find spikenard very grounding, even though it can come off a little medicinal. Hello from Colorado and thanks for hosting this!

  • sunnlitt says:

    I truly believe in the ability of scent to enhance emotional wellbeing and memory recall. My love of fig tree fragrances connects me with the childhood joy of climbing fig trees in the summer.
    I would love to experience Scent Therapy CALM.
    Maybe it would help me to quiet my noisy bedtime brain!
    Thank you. I am in the US.

  • rachelng says:

    Ida and Ruth! Wow!!! What beautiful and meaningful work! This is so encouraging and hopeful. I took a wonderful class at the IAO with Nuri McBride who spoke about how fragrance much we could add to our lived experience by trusting olfaction as a tool for knowing. I think Ruth (in her wisdom and generosity) is doing exactly this important work.
    How wonderful! I’m just so happy to know more about it!
    Thank you!

  • opalbear says:

    I’m very reliant on my fragrances and essential oils for healing, rest, mood, imagination, uplifting emotions and over all self care. I’m disabled and had quite a lot of health issues the last few years. Fragrances helped me deeply in so many ways. I can Travel in moments with a fragrance!
    Love what she is doing!! Way past due!!
    Appreciate the give away – from Cali USA

  • mmerline says:

    This was a really interesting profile. Sutcliffe’s take on the importance of care and attention paid to the scent of everyday products is both pragmatic and empathetic, and suggests someone that cares deeply about their work. On top of that, her efforts to support the aging and other therapeutic groups is inspired. I liked what she said here: “I’ve always been aware of the importance of the sense of smell and its connection to emotional wellbeing, memory recall, and how it can change our lives for the better. I am very proud that I have been a “pioneer” in the areas for scent and memory recall for people living with dementia, and for the sensory kits I have developed for speech language pathologists working with people who are often ignored and shunned by many people.” I also think the medicinal qiualities of CALM sound both pleasant and somewhat unusual—a unique approach to a personal fragrance worn close to the skin. I think we could all use some calm, tranquility, and aid for our mood, especially for those of us deep in winter. Thanks for the coverage, Ida.

    I’m in the USA. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the review, Ida.

    It’s really neat to see an article about a fragrance, not as an abstract art, but rather as a tool that people can use for mental well being.

    I liked the notes in calm – every note is there in harmony, either to uplift or to soothe.

    I’m excited to see Ruth’s future work.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • foreverscents says:

    I respect the idea that even if we can’t afford expensive and luxurious perfumes, we can still have scented and clean sheets to sleep on. I love that Ruth is using Ayurvedic formulas fir her scents. I think there is much to learn from this philosophy. During the pandemic, I, like everyone had a lot of stress. I am still apprehensive about navigating a post-pandemic world. Scent Therapy CALM essential oil perfume blend sounds like something that will help soothe my nerves. The list of notes is spectacular!
    I live in the USA.

  • amanna says:

    I’d love to see more interviews like this in the future, addressing health, wellbeing, and greater community issues involving scent. Having had someone with dementia in my life, I’m always glad to see inventive and caring ways to approach treating for those living with the disease. Ruth’s mission touches me in that way. As for the emotional health crisis, I believe this is the outcome of a world splintered and sold for profit by those with the means to do so. When the majority of people struggle to pay rent or afford basic necessities like food and healthcare, especially during a pandemic, it’s only too obvious that chronic stress will build and cause deeper, lasting issues, both mental and physical.

  • Torax says:

    Fantastic introduction to the amazing Ruth Sutcliffe, who has a resume that many wish to have.
    I am very courious of herapeutic scents. I really hope to try Calm, The fact that it helps to ease anxiety, agitation, palpitations, and sleep disturbance really makes me want to try it.
    I hope I win this one.
    I really feel that that emotional health and wellbeing is in crisis right now because of these rush and conflictive times we are living.
    USA here.

  • drjedi says:

    It is laudable that Ruth is using her extensive experience and knowledge for benefiting humanity, specifically people with mental or emotional issues. I have heard about fifty percent of physical visits have their root cause in stress and anxiety, expressing in physical or mental symptoms. Thanks for the interview and draw. From continental United States.