THE SCIENCE BEHIND HALSONUS

Change Your Frequency

Your brain is always active, moving through rhythms that shape how you think, feel, and rest. These rhythms, called brain waves, shift from the higher frequency bursts of focus to the slower, deeper waves of sleep. Research shows that both scent and sound can gently influence these states. Halsonus translates that science into sensory tools you can use every day.

Brain Waves, Reimagined

Brain waves are patterns of electrical activity, visible when measured with EEG as frequencies in hertz (Hz). Each frequency corresponds to a different state of mind, and each of our blends was designed to echo those rhythms with oils chosen for their corresponding effects on mood, memory, and sleep.

GAMMA (30–100 Hz): Insight & Learning

Gamma, the brain’s fastest rhythm, appears in brief bursts during problem-solving and discovery. Rosemary has been shown to improve memory and cognition, while lemon can lift mood and attention. Our Gamma blend of rosemary, lemon, and palo santo encourages clarity and focus, with palo santo rounding out the sharper edges.

BETA (12–30 Hz): Engaged & Alert

Beta dominates when you are concentrating, studying, or tackling a task. Peppermint has been found to increase alertness, and ginger helps reduce fatigue. Balanced with bergamot to ease stress, our Beta blend supports clear, energized focus.

ALPHA (8–12 Hz): Calm & Creative

Alpha is the rhythm of relaxed wakefulness and creative flow. Hinoki has been shown to quiet overactivity in the brain, while juniper berry steadies the nervous system. With a touch of grapefruit, our Alpha blend sets the tone for calm creativity.

THETA (4–8 Hz): Restful & Dreamlike

Theta is linked to deep relaxation, meditative awareness, and the liminal space between waking and dreaming. Cedarwood can lower heart rate and blood pressure, clary sage helps reduce stress hormones, and rose brings emotional ease. Our Theta blend supports spacious calm and reflection.

DELTA (0.5–4 Hz): Deep Sleep & Renewal

Delta is the slowest wave, tied to physical healing and memory integration. Lavender, one of the most studied essential oils, improves sleep quality, while sandalwood has sedative effects and frankincense helps the body settle. Our Delta blend supports profound rest and restoration.

Shaping Atmosphere

Each blend in the collection was created with two intentions: to support tangible shifts in energy and to be a deeply pleasurable to experience. They are not medical formulas, but sensory tools designed to feel as good as they function.

When you breathe in a fragrance, the signal bypasses logic and language and travels directly to the limbic system, the part of the brain that shapes memory and emotion. This is why a single inhale can ground you, wake you up, or suddenly bring back a vivid memory. Music works in a similar way: one note can shift mood and focus in an instant.

Layered together, scent and sound reinforce one another, creating subtle cues that can help guide you toward the state you would like to be in—whether that is clearer, calmer, more open, or more rested.

To explore this idea more deeply, read our blog post on how atmosphere shapes the inner world and how scent and sound can become part of that invisible architecture. [Read it here →]

Sensory Synergy

When scent and sound converge, they amplify each other’s power. Two signals, entering through different pathways, arrive at the same destination: your nervous system. Together they create a message — you are meant to be here — and with practice, that pairing becomes a shortcut. Light the candle, press play, and your body remembers more easily the state you’d like to inhabit. With time, the effect feels almost like magic.

In Closing

Halsonus is where science and ritual meet the everyday. Choose a state, set the atmosphere, and let your system do what it already knows. Each candle, oil, and soundscape is a small, steady way to care for yourself in real time.

For a closer look at the research behind each blend, visit our Show Your Work page.