There’s nothing like it for mustering long lost memories of childhood, of a person of a place – that one smell instantly flings you back in time to that oh so familiar moment. But research shows that the sense of smell is so powerful that it influences other senses and that the right smells can immediately lift your mood and can help to reduce stress.
But why is it that inhaling something fabulous such as mown grass, a freshly cut apple can lift our spirits so effectively and so fast?
Memory is an important factor because we associate happy (or sad) times with visual, audio and aroma triggers. Scent has a physiological affect on the body, and in particular pleasant smells have a tranquil effect on the body, lowering the heart rate and reducing stress.
Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.
Helen Keller
So what smells get those ‘happy’ endorphins bursting with joy and reducing stress levels?
Basil can help you feel refreshed and alert. If you’re finding it hard to wake up in the morning, reach for the basil.
Camomile has excellent calming properties, especially effective for irritation, impatience and feeling disagreeable, and has great value in treating PMS and other menstrual and menopausal problems.
Cinnamon helps with recall, mental processing, helps give you quicker time reaction and can outperform those other “mental” scents. Cinnamon works by increasing blood flow. More blood flow gives you more energy and also brain boosting power.
Eucalyptus, menthol and camphor boost your Emotional Quotient (EQ). Smelling these scents can help you be more empathic to other people’s needs or concerns.
Grapefruit, coffee and peppermint can help give you a mental edge.
Jasmine, can help you improve hand and eye coordination by helping you to boost your concentration.
Lemon has historically been used to balance the nervous system, to refresh and uplift, for purifying the body. Studies have shown that the scent of lemon oil can actually create a greater sense of concentration, while increasing alertness.
Peppermint can help you lose weight, regularly sniffing it can suppress hunger.
Roses have a natural perfume that has an uplifting effect. Therapeutic properties of the scent of a rose are antidepressant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antibacterial, and antiviral; increases menstruation, calms nervous tension
Sandalwood is well known for its calming effects and is great for stress relief but it’s an oil that has many other therapeutic properties, such as: antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, sedative and tonic
So now, when you’re feeling a little blue – reduce stress and lift your mood by reaching for one of these and think of us.
Alterations to environmental stimulus is a part of every Calmer Sea plan for relieving stress and lifting your mood.
At Calmer Sea we want to create a better life experience for as many people as possible by helping them to break down any barriers that they face and unlocking their true potential. By taking the right steps to lift your mood and by following the Calmer Sea process, together, we can help you to relax and find inner peace.
No responses yet