The concept of using scents to promote wellness is not a new one. It has essentially been around in various forms for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and has been practised in one way or another by cultures around the globe.
However, recent advances in scientific knowledge and neuroscience have allowed us to better understand why smells affect us so much and what scents achieve what results. Modern technology has also helped us to achieve better diffusion efficiencies as well as to produce much cleaner and purer ingredients. We also have access to a much wider variety of scents now than ever before from all over the world.
This has led to a resurgence in aromatherapy, which has been scientifically proven to be quite effective at improving one’s wellbeing. Let’s take a look at how fragrances can promote wellness and why.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Various studies over the past 30 or so years have proven repeatedly that certain fragrances have a measurable impact on mental wellbeing. Scents such as lavender have been shown to effectively reduce anxiety, whereas lemon increases mental clarity. There are various other scents that have been proven to either soothe, calm or invigorate the mind, and more research continues to be carried out.
When the mind is well, bodily wellness tends to follow. It is well-understood that stress, anxiety and mind fog can contribute to the deterioration of one’s physical health. The reasons for this are varied, such as lack of enthusiasm or motivation to exercise, but the outcomes are the same.
The Link Between The Nose And The Brain
The olfactory system is intrinsically linked to our emotions, which in turn have a huge effect on our wellbeing. The nose is linked to the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for creating emotions, as well as to the hippocampus, which is where we form new memories.
Memories and emotions are tightly connected – for better or for worse – and each is closely associated with our sense of smell, whether consciously or subconsciously. When we smell, it can cause a range of emotional reactions and form powerful connections to our memories.
Bad smells can cause stress and anxiety, triggering a sense of discomfort and a need to escape, whereas pleasing smells can do the exact opposite.
Good smells have the potential to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and help you forge good memories and positive emotions, which can contribute significantly to one’s physical health.
For more information on scents and how they can be used effectively and with purpose, contact Scent.ology today!
