Let Your Senses Recalibrate: How the Great Lakes Inspired GLO

Sometimes the best thing we can do is step back.

To breathe.

To pause.

To let our senses recalibrate.

In a world that constantly pushes us to go faster, do more, and stay plugged in, I’ve found that the most meaningful moments—and the most creative breakthroughs—come from slowing down. And I’m deeply grateful that I can do that in the very place that inspired me to start GLO: the Great Lakes.

A Place That Speaks Through Scent

There’s something different about the Great Lakes. If you’ve ever stood on the shoreline with the breeze brushing against your skin, or walked barefoot across sun-warmed sand, or inhaled the sweet mix of wildflowers and pine in the morning mist—you know what I mean.

The air carries a kind of memory. It’s fresh and clean, but also nostalgic and grounding. And for me, it sparked something deep within. It whispered, “This is what perfume should be—real, rooted, and alive.”

That’s how Great Lakes Olfactory (GLO) was born. A line of all-natural fragrances crafted to capture not just beautiful smells, but the feelings and memories that those smells evoke. The deep stillness of Lake Superior. The vibrancy of Lake Michigan in summer. The wild, romantic hush of Lake Ontario in early spring.

Each scent in GLO’s collections is inspired by these lakes and the shifting seasons around them. But more than that, they’re inspired by the practice of tuning back into the world through your senses.

Summer is for Savoring

Summer has always felt like the perfect invitation to slow down. The days stretch longer, the light softens, and nature seems to say: “Come closer. Listen. Smell. Rest.”

Even though I’m often in the lab blending, creating, testing—I’ve learned that my most important work doesn’t happen in the lab. It happens when I’m outside, soaking in the scent of blooming flowers, fresh-cut grass, driftwood drying on the shore. That’s where real inspiration lives.

And you don’t need to be a perfumer to access it.

Try it today: Go outside. Close your eyes. Take a slow, deep breath through your nose. Let scent guide you—whether it’s flowers on the breeze, the earth after rain, or the subtle freshness of water in the air. These tiny, often unnoticed sensory experiences have the power to reconnect us to our surroundings, and to ourselves.

Scent as a Portal

Scent is the most emotional of our senses. It links directly to the part of the brain that stores memory. That’s why one whiff of lilac can bring you back to your grandmother’s garden, or a hint of fresh air can flood your heart with memories of a favorite lakeside trip.

At GLO, I’ve made it my mission to bottle that kind of feeling.

Our perfumes aren’t just about smelling good (though they do). They’re about feeling something real: grounded, uplifted, nostalgic, wild, free. Every bottle contains natural botanicals and essential oils—never synthetic fragrances—so what you’re wearing is as clean and natural as the place that inspired it.

Let Nature Speak to You

Before summer ends, I invite you to do what I do when I need to reset:

-Step back. Go outside.

-Let your senses recalibrate.

-Smell what’s around you.

And when you’re ready to bring the Great Lakes home with you, I’ve created something special.

Our all-natural collections—Beachside (fresh and airy), Springtime (floral and feminine), and Twilight (bold and sensual)—are here for you. Handcrafted in small batches. Rooted in nature. Designed to make you feel.

-Connie