Forests are not silent, empty spaces. They are living environments filled with scent, chemistry and communication.
A 2020 state-of-the-art review by Antonelli and colleagues explored forest volatile organic compounds, often discussed in forest therapy as phytoncides. These compounds are naturally released by plants and trees, and include substances such as pinene and limonene.
The review found that inhaling certain forest volatile organic compounds may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the airways. It also noted that some terpenes absorbed through inhalation may support relaxation, mood, cognitive performance and reduced mental fatigue.
The forest as a whole system
This is one of the reasons forest air feels different. The scent of leaves, bark, soil and resin is not just atmosphere. It may be part of the forest’s biological influence on the human body.
But Antonelli and colleagues also make an important point: the benefits of visiting a forest cannot be explained by volatile compounds alone. The overall effect likely comes from the combined stimulation of the senses, including sight, sound, smell, touch and the broader experience of being in a natural setting.
That is exactly why guided forest therapy is multisensory. It is not just breathing forest air. It is noticing light, listening deeply, slowing movement, touching textures, feeling temperature and allowing the body to respond to the whole environment.
The forest works as a whole system. Forest therapy helps us meet it that way.
Further reading: Antonelli et al. review.