Making Scents

Smells Like Team Spirit

A new study has linked "fresh" and "clean"-seeming fragrances with higher levels of teamwork and increased altruism:

Clean Smells Promote Generosity and Fairplay

The next time the atmosphere of your workplace devolves into negativity, light up a stick of that fine Shoyeido incense you've got stashed away in your desk. It may be just what the conflict-resolution specialist ordered!

China's Fragrant Mountain Park

About 20 miles northwest of Beijing lies Xiangshan - "Fragrant Mountain Park." This ancient, beautiful area derives its name from incense burner-shaped Xianglu Peak. The mountain's frequent mists are said to complete the feeling of an enormous incense burner wreathed in aromatic smoke.

Xianshan is also legendary for its intensely red autumnal displays. Each year, the many maple, sumac, persimmon and smoke trees cloaking the hills are said to burst into brilliant crimson.

Incense Smoking Robot

Robots. Is there anything they can't do?

It's The Incense Smoking Robot, available from General Robots.