Originally Published July 22, 2004 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Add Scents to Improve
Your Life
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If you
have ever returned home after vacationing to a stale-smelling home,
you know the immediate feeling of wanting to re-circulate the air
and return your lived-in scent. Or, what about going to visit
Grandma and smiling to the fresh-baked cookie smell. And, what
about the adrenaline new-car scent that people always rave about?
Our
sense of smell is not often talked about but is intricately woven
into our quality of life. Without the ability to smell, taste would
diminish, memories would be less vivid, and your awareness of the
world around you would be weakened. |
“When you
smell something like crayons, you don’t just say ‘oh, these are crayons.’
Rather, you associate the crayons to memories of crayons in kindergarten,”
says Dr. Theresa White, a leading expert in the field of the human
olfactory system at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. She says that
memories triggered by smell are more vivid.
White says
that the sense of smell preempts taste and sets up expectations for what a
taste might be. Smells can also be associated with certain moods --
influencing the way we think, our behavior, and how we feel.
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The
sense of smell comes from what is called the olfactory bulb, which
is located in the limbic region of the brain. The limbic system
controls our emotions, hormonal secretions, mood, and motivation, as
well as pain and pleasure sensations. With smell being so closely
connected to how we feel and think, scents are a powerful element in
our lives.
“The aspect of smells relating to memory is one of the most exciting
area of aromatherapy to me,” says Aromatherapy Expert and Enata
Perfumery Founder Glenda Taylor, who has also written a book called
The Essence of Aromatherapy. “The (memory) aspect hugely
enhances the therapeutic value of an essential oil.” |
She say that
“Aromatherapy, being a holistic therapy -- meaning ‘whole’ --, upholds the
theory that an essential oil’s memory association has a strong effect on a
person’s mind. Most scientifically based practitioners in any field will
agree that a person’s state of mind can affect their health.”
Aromatherapy
is the art and science of using essential oils and scents for healing in a
holistic manner. Molecules from the essential oils enter the body by
inhalation or through the skin. The result, based on different oils’
properties, will be stimulating, sedating, antibacterial, and so on.
Additionally, oftentimes essential oils are combined with other therapies,
such as massage, for maximum benefit.
One of the
newest consumer product trends is to pay more attention to not only
incorporate scents into products but also cause a benefit. Essential
oils, instead of synthetic smells, are now entering the mainstream as a
result. Examples are lotions that once only focused on the therapeutic
payoff of the cream itself but are now adding specific scents and oils to
approach the product holistically. It’s a wonder why manufacturers didn’t
pay attention to this sooner, especially when you can walk down any
deodorant or shampoo isle and see customers pulling off caps and smelling
the product before they buy.
If you are
interested in adding scents into your life to feel better and proactively
enjoy the benefits of certain smells and essential oils, check out these
starter ideas:
Travel with
scents from home
by taking along your pillowcase and putting it over the hotel pillow. You
will relax easier with the familiar scent.
Add mandarin
essential oil
into a small potpourri warmer with water to create a fresh and light mood
-- especially good for winter blues.
A quick
sniff from a bottle of lavender essential oil
is said to clear your mind. Says Taylor, “When sleep eludes you and you
can’t unwind because of ‘mind chatter,’ a drop of lavender oil dotted onto
a handkerchief and placed on your pillow so you can inhale its vapors will
instantly soothe and relax.”
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington