The Influence of Smell in our Lives
0How to set the mood using essential oils
Close your eyes and imagine me giving you a rose. The first thing you will do after receiving the rose, will be to smell it, anticipating its unique rich, round, aroma. If I massaged some cream onto your hand you would instinctively want to smell your hands.
Being one of our five senses, and the one sense that connects to the most primitive part of the brain, smell is communication from our surrounds. Smell gives us information and what we smell has an effect on our emotions which then determines how we feel. Being associated with memory, smells can remind us of a place and a time which can also influence how we feel, depending on the connotations of that memory.
It is from personal experience that I understand the power of smell and inhalation, and I’d love to share a short story about this experience. When I was first introduced to essential oils I loved the fragrance and richness of German camomile. Knowing it has sedative properties I carefully used about four or five drops in my bedtime bath. That night I slept through for the first time since having children – at that stage I had an eight and a four year old. I did not feel “knocked out “, but I felt rested. To test if it really was the oil, I skipped a couple of nights and repeated the use of oil about four nights later and again slept soundly. Since then I often use German camomile before bed (in a bath or a few drops on a tissue) and alternate with neroli which is also sedating.
Determine your mood and set the atmosphere
If we consciously bring smell into our surroundings we can determine a mood and set an atmosphere.
Morning Kick Start
Inhaling fresh citrus-like aromas are uplifting and carry a feeling of spring, freshness and lightness. These kinds of smells are wonderful to inhale in the morning as they can influence how you feel for the day.
Fresh oils – lemongrass, lime, lemon verbena, bergamot and grapefruit.
Midday Pick-Me-Up
Mid-afternoon post-lunch slumps can be overcome by inhaling uplifting smells. Rosemary, lemon or peppermint are good for that pick-me-up feeling.
Pick-me-up oils – orange, ginger, lemon, clarysage, peppermint, mandarin, geranium and petitgrain
Evening Wind Down
Similarly, in the evenings we can create a calm serene mood with gentle aromas which will help us relax after a busy day. Sedating oils can be used before bedtime. In this age of too much to do in a day and information overload, we can use aromas to help us cope.
Relaxing and Calming oils – lavender, cedarwood, palmarosa, sandalwood, rose and jasmine, neroli (orange blossom), camomile (German), lavender and ylang ylang
How to apply
– Inhale – Aromatic inhalers, aromatherapy burners and burner essence, room/linen spray, or on a tissue
– Topical – creams, oils or lotions (especially on pulse points), Mini Roll On
– Shower gels, glycerine soap, or in the bath using a bath oil
A customer once told me that every evening prior to her husband returning home from work, she would freshen their bedroom with Silent Moments room spray, knowing that as he came home he would go their bedroom to take off his tie and shoes before coming to the living room. When he went on a business trip he called her one evening from his hotel room having just come in after a days’ work and told her that he missed the aroma of silent moments…
We would love to hear your stories of how smell and aroma’s have influenced your life. Please share them with us or ask me a question.
Yours in Aromatic wellbeing
Doryce x
About the Author
Ask Dory
Doryce Sher, co-founder of Aromatic Apothecary, is one of South Africa’s leading advocates on the regulation of complementary medicine, with a particular interest in Aromatherapy.
Serving on and representing various health boards in South Africa, it is her passionate aim to ensure people are aware that there are choices when it comes to health and well-being.
Doryce would love to hear from. If you have a question, comment or would simply like to tell her your story, do so below. We look forward to hearing from you.