Benefits of Spending Time in Nature for Wellbeing

The modern world offers many conveniences, yet it also asks a great deal of us. Notifications arrive constantly, work often follows us home, and many of us spend more time indoors than ever before.

In the midst of busy schedules and endless demands, it can be easy to overlook one of the simplest sources of wellbeing available to us: spending time in nature.

Whether it is a walk through a woodland, sitting in a garden on a summer evening, or simply noticing the changing seasons from a park bench, time spent outdoors has long been associated with a sense of calm and restoration. Increasingly, research is beginning to explore why these experiences can feel so beneficial.

At Aycee Apothec, our seasonal Summer scent, Ullassa, was inspired by this very idea. Named after the Sanskrit word for quiet joy and inner uplift, Ullassa was created to capture the restorative feeling of spending time outdoors and bring a little of that experience into everyday life.

Why Nature Feels Different

Many people intuitively describe feeling calmer after spending time outdoors. While nature cannot remove the challenges of daily life, it can provide a different environment from the one many of us occupy for much of the day.

Natural settings often engage our senses in a gentler way. The movement of leaves in the breeze, birdsong in the distance, the scent of flowers or freshly cut grass, and the changing patterns of light all create an experience that feels markedly different from busy urban environments.

Unlike digital devices, which constantly compete for our attention, nature invites observation without demanding a response. There is no inbox to clear, no notifications to answer and no expectation of productivity. Nature simply asks us to notice.

The Research Behind Time Outdoors

Researchers have explored the relationship between time spent in nature and wellbeing for many years. Studies suggest that spending time in natural environments may be associated with reduced feelings of stress, improved mood, greater feelings of vitality, increased feelings of connection and opportunities for reflection.

One widely discussed study published in Scientific Reports found that people who spent at least 120 minutes per week in nature reported higher levels of health and wellbeing than those who spent little or no time outdoors. Importantly, those two hours did not need to happen all at once. Short walks, garden visits and weekend outings all appeared to contribute.

While research in this area continues to evolve, the findings support what many people have felt intuitively for years: spending time outdoors often leaves us feeling better than when we started.

The Importance of Slowing Down

Perhaps one of nature's greatest gifts is the opportunity to slow down. Many outdoor activities naturally encourage a different pace. Walking through woodland rarely feels rushed. Sitting in a garden with a cup of tea creates space to pause. Watching clouds move across the sky requires no achievement at all.In these moments, attention shifts away from tasks and towards simple observation. This change in focus can create valuable mental breathing room in a world that often encourages constant activity.

Forest Bathing: A Practice of Presence

The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, often translated as “forest bathing”, has gained increasing attention in recent years. Despite the name, it does not involve water. Instead, it refers to immersing yourself in a natural environment and engaging fully with your surroundings through your senses.

Forest bathing encourages participants to slow down, notice sounds, textures, scents and light, and become more present in the moment. It is not a hike, a workout or a challenge. Rather, it is a gentle practice of awareness.

The concept resonates strongly with the values behind Aycee Apothec. We believe wellbeing is often found not in doing more, but in creating space to notice and appreciate what is already around us.

Nature, Mindfulness and Everyday Rituals

Many mindfulness practices encourage paying attention to the present moment without judgement. Nature provides an ideal setting for this. The rhythm of waves on a shoreline, the sound of rainfall, or the movement of leaves in a breeze naturally draw attention towards the present.

This same philosophy influences many of the rituals people create at home. Lighting a candle, preparing a cup of tea, reading a book or simply taking a few minutes away from screens can all become opportunities to pause and reconnect.

At Aycee Apothec, our candles are designed to support these moments. Crafted from 100% coconut wax and blended with pure essential oils, they are intended to complement simple wellbeing rituals rather than complicate them.

Nature and the Senses

The experience of being outdoors is deeply sensory. The scent of lavender carried on warm air, the earthy aroma that follows rainfall, and the subtle fragrance of flowering herbs and blossom all contribute to the experience.

These sensory experiences often become linked with positive memories and feelings of relaxation. It was this connection between scent and nature that inspired Ullassa. Hand-blended with lavender, clary sage, rose geranium and neroli, it was designed to evoke the feeling of warm evenings outdoors, surrounded by flowers and greenery.

While no candle can replace the experience of being outside, scent can serve as a gentle reminder of those moments and help bring elements of the natural world indoors.

Simple Ways to Spend More Time in Nature

Connecting with nature does not require a remote countryside retreat. Small moments often matter most.

• Take a short walk during your lunch break.

• Sit in the garden with a morning coffee.

• Visit a local park at the weekend.

• Grow herbs, flowers or vegetables at home.

• Eat outdoors when the weather allows.

• Leave your phone in your pocket during part of a walk.The goal is not perfection. Rather, it is creating regular opportunities to reconnect with the natural world.

Bringing the Outdoors In

British weather does not always cooperate with our intentions. Fortunately, there are ways to create a sense of connection with nature indoors. Fresh flowers, houseplants, natural materials and carefully chosen scents can all help create an environment that feels calm and restorative.

This idea inspired the creation of Ullassa. Designed to capture the feeling of a warm summer evening outdoors, it offers a gentle reminder of nature's restorative qualities even when the weather keeps us inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time should I spend in nature each week?

Research suggests that around 120 minutes per week may be associated with improved wellbeing, although even shorter periods can feel beneficial.

Do I need access to woodland or countryside?

No. Parks, gardens, riverside walks and other green spaces can all provide opportunities to connect with nature.

What is forest bathing?

Forest bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in nature and engaging fully with your surroundings through your senses.

Can scent help create a connection with nature?

Many people find that botanical scents evoke memories and emotions associated with time spent outdoors, helping create a calming atmosphere at home.

A Gentle Reminder

Nature rarely asks us to do more. Instead, it reminds us that sometimes wellbeing begins with doing less. A walk beneath trees. A garden in bloom. The scent of flowers carried on a summer breeze. These moments may seem small, yet they often leave a lasting impression. Perhaps that is why so many of us feel drawn back to nature again and again. Within its simplicity, we often find exactly what we need.

Ullassa is Aycee Apothec's seasonal Summer candle, inspired by the restorative calm of spending time in nature. Hand-blended with pure essential oils of lavender, clary sage, rose geranium and neroli, crafted from 100% coconut wax, and with 10% of sales supporting Mind.