The Biologist 0005- Year of the Snake

The Biologist 0005- Year of the Snake
JANUARY 31, 2025

Welcome to THE BIOLOGIST, your weekly dose of inspiration at the intersection of fragrance and culture. 

YEAR OF THE SNAKE 

This week we are celebrating Lunar New Year! With the arrival of the Year of the Snake, we are marking a time of renewal, reflection and celebration while embracing wisdom, transformation, and growth. The scents of Lunar New Year traditions carry deep cultural significance—bringing luck, prosperity, and a sense of connection.


FUNCTION: SCENT AS A SYMBOL OF CONTINUED GROWTH
The snake is the sixth animal in the zodiac, representing the “midpoint, symbolizing balance - or the need for it - in one’s life,” according to Jonathan H.X. Lee, a professor of Asian and Asian American folklore, religions and culture. So as the New Year begins, prioritize balancing the momentum of renewal while creating space for fresh opportunities. 

Just as the Snake sheds its skin, this year serves as a chance to release the past, welcome transformation, and step into new possibilities. Incorporating fragrance into daily rituals can help maintain a sense of clarity and inspiration.
Try this: Refresh your environment with fragrances that promote focus and positivity. 
  • For calming and uplifting properties, try Joy or Elysian
  • For grounding and reflection, try FlowDeep or Stellar*.
  • For regeneration and balance, try Balance.


TRANSPORT: FRAGRANT NEW YEAR MARKETS
One of the most immersive ways to experience Lunar New Year is through its bustling markets. These vibrant spaces are filled with the aromas of fresh flowers, incense, and celebratory foods. From Hong Kong’s Flower Market to Singapore’s Chinatown Street Market, each location offers a sensory experience that embodies the spirit of the new year.

Taiwan:
- Ningxia Market (Taipei)
- Tainan Flower Night Market (Tainan)

Hong Kong:
-Temple Street Night Market (Yau Ma Tei)
- Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair (Causeway Bay)

Singapore: 
-Chinatown Street Market
-River Hongbao (Marina Bay)

If you can’t visit a Lunar New Year market in person, bring the experience home. Find a local Asian market and explore the scents of the season—pomelos for abundance, five-spice for warmth, or osmanthus flowers for happiness.

BOND: CULINARY CONNECTIONS
Food provides an important bond to Lunar New Year celebrations, with many traditional dishes infused with symbolic meaning and rich aromas. Fragrant ingredients such as star anise, ginger, and citrus enhance both flavor and fortune.

Some of our favorite simple, yet meaningful dishes to honor the Lunar New Year include:
  • Sour & spicy poached fish, symbolising abundance and prosperity
  • Dumplings stuffed with garlic, ginger, chives and scallions, for longevity and wealth
  • Tangyuan (sweet rice balls), representing family togetherness and unity
However you celebrate, we are wishing you a fragrant and prosperous Year of the Snake!
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