WHY IS THE POWER OF SCENT SO POWERFUL?
A lingering scent can transport us to another time and place with extraordinary vividness. This is because fragrance and memory are interlinked; whether it’s the earthy odour of freshly cut grass, the salty sea air and warm sand summer smell, the sweet aroma of pastries in the oven, the woody scents of an autumn evening or the perfume worn by your mother when you were a child.
Fragrances can also affect our behaviour in the present moment, triggering a physiological response. Scents can alter our mood, promote increased alertness and positivity, create feelings of calm tranquillity and relaxation, provide clarity and focus, or help ease stress and insomnia. Some popular fragrance examples include:
Refreshing and revitalising scents: citrus, coconut, eucalyptus, peppermint, pine, tea tree, thyme.
Calming and relaxing scents: lavender, vanilla, sandalwood, frankincense, camomile and jasmine.
WHY IS SCENT SO POWERFUL?
It is the olfactory nerve that gives us a sense of smell. This nerve sends signals to several areas of our brain including the limbic system and amygdale which are related to emotions, memory, and mood. This is the secret of the power of smell – of our five senses, only the sense of smell has a direct link with the limbic lobe of the brain that controls memory and emotions which can influence our mood. The sense of smell can even regulate the hormonal glands.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are natural compounds that are extracted from plants and tree parts. These oils have been around for centuries and are used in many cultures for medicinal purposes, cooking, cosmetics and perfumes. Recently, essential oils have been growing in popularity for their health properties and calming effects when used for aromatherapy.
WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
Aromatherapy is a natural treatment using aromatic essential oils to promote wellbeing that enhances both physical and emotional health. For example, when we are stressed we shallow breathe. Using essential oils with breathing techniques such as taking deep slow breaths can help increase oxygen flow to every cell and calm the body.
HOW TO USE AROMATHERAPY
There are three easy ways to reap the benefits:
- Ingesting
Consuming herbal infusion tea is a safe and healthy way to add the plant extracts into your diet. There are health benefits of drinking herbal teas. - Direct application to the skin
When applied in this manner the body can absorb the molecules as they permeate through the skin. Look for creams and gels that use natural ingredients without harsh chemicals that can dry out the skin. If you are using concentrated essential oils, it is best to dilute them with a carrier oil before application and to first test a tiny amount on the skin to make sure you are compatible with the essential oil. - Inhaling
This method is usually done using a diffuser or room spray where the oil molecules are dispersed through the air for you to breathe them in. When we apply essential oil to our skin is take 2/3 minutes for the oil to get in to our system but when we inhale it reaches our brain in only 22 seconds which makes inhaling the fastest way to reap the benefits.
CREATE A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
Aromatherapy is an effective and easy habit to integrate into everyday life. Using essential oils through diffusers and room sprays is a nice touch to greet you and your guests with a warm welcome. If you have a scent that perks you up or evokes happy memories, make an effort to surround yourself with it at work, at home, in your car and everywhere in between. Science suggests that when we’re surrounded by smells we like, it can renew our mindset and improve creative thinking so if you’re having a tough day, use fragrances for an instant pick-me-up.
The sense of smell works in different ways for different individuals. What smells good to you may not necessarily smell good to another person; our preferences are largely very personal. If you need some ideas, VOYA is renowned for its luxurious scents and has a range of different award-winning products infused with essential oils. The Oh So Scented collection like all the other VOYA products is 100% cruelty-free and made with non-toxic natural ingredients.
DIFFUSERS
The benefits of diffusers are way greater than making a room smell nice, they also play a vital role in influencing your attitude. We cannot always control external events but we can support shifting our awareness from stressed to calm. Wellness comes from within and that includes the spaces where you spend most of your days as your senses are always interacting with the environment.
VOYA has a range of luxurious natural diffusers suitable for every room and to elevate any mood:
