This New York Wellness Funhouse Wants You to Smell Your Feelings

The debut theme is “Presence is the Present,” an elegant way to describe mindfulness. The team has transcended beyond traditional meditation cushions and gentle chimes. The first two experiences, the culmination of extensive development across continents, are filled with joy and playfulness. Mekanik’s scent bar, the centerpiece of her Mind-Scent experience, is prominently located just beyond a quaint shop stocked with board-approved products. Venture a bit deeper into the loft-like ambiance, and you’ll discover a lounge bathed in warm mauve light, featuring stunning 3D printed chairs in a rich hunter green. The wall displays mimic the gentle swaying of trees in response to individuals’ movements. As Ellenberg describes it, “The concept was to evoke the feeling of stepping into a forest.” Adjacent to the lounge is a next-level meditation room, crafted by Landau, designated for private and almost psychedelic Emergence sessions.

The experience I’m presently immersed in focuses on identifying the fragrance that embodies my essence. To get there, Mekanik and I will engage in a Goldilocks-like assessment of three unique scents her device created for me. Once I select my favorite from the trio, we’ll collaborate to fine-tune it to better meet my specific desires. Honestly, I wouldn’t wish the scent version of myself upon anyone right now. My responses to the nuanced questions about how sensual, jittery, curious, distracted, and anxious I feel hardly create a hit fragrance. Admittedly, I’m not at my best today. I’m running low on sleep and feeling the pressure of the cake I volunteered to make for my family’s Rosh Hashanah gathering.

Nonetheless, the second of the three scents produced by Mekanik’s whimsical device is surprisingly delightful. “Lauren Mechling 02” is infused with vibrant citrus elements and, as Mekanik explains, hints of Mediterranean essence, whatever that implies. Mekanik gives it her thumbs-up, and we dive into the process of refining the formula. We opt for more bergamot and grapefruit, while minimizing jasmine and lily of the valley. In a collaborative effort, we even rename the scent to something that captures this exact, imperfect moment: “Wednesday.” She sends me away with a collection of palm-sized vials to remember the experience: the original three formulations alongside our final masterpiece. “Scent is a powerful form of self-expression, yet so few have the opportunity to create,” she shares with me. “Each of us is an artist in some capacity—be it cooking, writing, or photography—but scent is another avenue we can all explore.”