INSIDE: Want to know what scents to use for wellbeing or even how they can impact us to begin with? Let's dive in and discover it together!

Scents and emotional and mental well-being are deeply connected. A whiff of a specific scent can transport you to a distant memory that could trigger joy and happiness and make your day bright and positive. Some fragrances may also have a calming effect on you.

With the way scents and fragrances link to one’s memory and emotions, we can take advantage of fragrances to improve their well-being. That's why many are now using absolute essential oils, aroma candles, and other aromatherapy items to boost their well-being.

Let's discover how fragrances travel to the brain and contribute to your well-being...

How Scents Travel To The Brain

Has this ever happened to you? You smell something, and it takes you a minute to remember what it is or what the event the scent is associated with.

This happens because scents travel from the olfactory bulbs and go straight to the limbic system, the region related to emotion and memory.  

Unlike information we read or hear, which travels to the brain’s cerebral cortex and is responsible for higher-level processes like reasoning and decision-making, scents take a different route. The limbic system is the portion of the brain that processes emotional and behavioral responses.  

That’s why it can take us a while to associate a scent with a memory. We need plenty of time to rack our brains for the specific memory, but once we have access to it, a slew of emotions can overflow. These emotions can heal us, calm us, or make us happy.

How Fragrances Contribute To Our Well-Being

Different scents offer different benefits. Additionally, there are several ways various fragrances boost our well-being.

Here are some of them...

Uplifts Moods

Some days will drag us down, and we feel like we don’t want to get out of bed. But we can’t ignore the responsibilities we have to face and the people we must deal with each day.

If we feel out of sorts, we need something to lift our mood and shake the languid feeling away.   

The scent of sweet orange, rosemary, and clary sage can help us get out of that hole. For a quick pick-me-up, place a drop of each on your palm, rub them together and inhale deeply. This will instantly perk you up and boost your mood.

Improves Cognitive Function 

Does the smell of freshly baked bread, especially newly baked cinnamon buns out of the oven, entice you to sit straight and focus on the task at hand?

The sweet and slightly spicy scent wafting throughout the kitchen can certainly perk us up. And if you’re studying, it can give you more energy and focus to read your books.

That's because cinnamon aids the brain in processing information and forming new memories. Many experts believe it’s one of the best natural nootropics.  

Furthermore, according to experts, frequently using the parts of the brain involved in the process of smelling through repeated exposure to odors may increase one’s olfactory abilities and cognition.  

Improves Sleep

A night of good restful sleep can do wonders for the body. But with so many distractions today, sleep can become elusive. Even if we’re exhausted, sleep seems to avoid us, and it may not be enough to shower, drink a glass of warm milk, or count hundreds of sheep.  

To help you with this dilemma, you can diffuse lavender essential oil. Lavender helps lower our heart rate, reduce anxiety, and calm our senses. These are all significant stages that the body undergoes right before drifting to dreamland.

This simple natural scent can help you wake up fully rested and ready to face the day in the morning.

May Help Reduce Depression 

It’s no surprise that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. About 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depressive disorder. Various factors may contribute to depression, and if not addressed immediately, it can even lead to suicide.   

Depression can affect a person’s physical, mental, and emotional capabilities. Anxiety, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, sadness, and difficulty concentrating can manifest and severely impact their personal, social, and professional life.    

If you feel any symptoms of depression, ginger, lavender, and bergamot are the best scents to help. These three scents increase the body’s production of serotonin, the chemical messenger our body produces to stabilize our moods. Serotonin also helps with sleep, decreases stress, and reduces anxiety.    

Invokes Feelings Of Joy 

Scents and fragrances can invoke feelings of joy as they transport you back to the memories you have associated with them.

For instance, vanilla might instantly bring you back to the happiest memories of your childhood. It could remind you of your grandma baking cookies or your first day in school with a charming teacher.

The familiar, comforting, sweet scents of our childhood can give us feelings of peace, calm, and balance, contributing to our happiness and well-being.  

Conclusion 

Self-care is essential; looking after yourself will do wonders for your body and positively affect your relationships with others. Using scents to help improve your well-being is a great way to begin.

Consider using the scents mentioned above, like lavender, ginger, and vanilla to show your body how much you care. Your body is a vessel, and it is only by loving this vessel that you can genuinely pour love into others.

For an even bigger result, try crystals and essential oils together!

* Crystals and stones should not be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Please read our full disclaimer notice here.