Title: Scent and the Subconscious: Neurochemical Pathways Linking Olfaction and Hypnosis
Presenter: John Launius

Audio MP3 Download $15

This session examines the direct neural pathways of olfaction and their unique access to the limbic system—the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus—where emotion, memory, and autonomic regulation reside. Unlike visual or auditory input, olfactory signals bypass the thalamic relay and reach the subconscious rapidly, creating fertile ground for hypnotic induction and suggestion. Drawing on current neuroscience, olfactory chemistry, and clinical hypnosis practice, this presentation demonstrates how specific terpenes and aromatic compounds (e.g., linalool, sesquiterpenes in agarwood) can enhance trance depth, increase receptivity, and accelerate behavioral change.