Add fragrance to your life and home!

(this guide is a work in progress, we will be adding to it over the next weeks)

We are surrounded by scents in our every day lives, some more pleasant than others.  For centuries, aromatherapy has been the art of healing and well-being using scent and one of our most underutilized sense, our sense of smell.  Humans can actually distinguish more than 10,000 smells.  A connection between memory or past experience may also influence the degree of personal pleasantness of certain smells.

Below are some indications of what a particular scent or type of scent can do for your mood, your well-being, or simply your comfort.  Our lives are hectic enough, why not surround yourself with pleasant smells and enhance your well-being!

If you expect or hope that aromatherapy will in itself cure a major illness or actually cure "stress," you will probably be in for a disappointment. But if you expect that aromatherapy can help with a physical condition, can help with symptoms, can effect your mood, or help alleviate or temporarily eliminate stress or other psychological factors, you may be delighted with the results that you experience.

Citrus - Energy

Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Verbena - all these scents enhance energy, are great wake-ups and perk-uppers!  Try one of these scents in a soap, bubble bath or shower gel, or even  a lotion, especially in the morning. The smell of orange helps provide emotional balance and bring on a positive outlook.

Lavender for relaxation

Lavender has a calming and soothing effect.  Wonderful to use at night, in the shower or bath.  Or tuck a sachet under your pillow.  Light a lavender candle, you can even find lavender flavored foods and seasonings.  Lavender has been found to help lower heart rate, lower blood and arterial pressure.  It also helps decrease muscle tension.    Similar effects are found in Bergamot and Sandalwood.  Try a few drops of Lavender essential oil in your next bath, and make sure to tuck sachets in drawers and closets.

Mint, pine and citrus - refreshing, uplifting and clean

Mint, pine and lemon scents are often found as the scent used for cleaning products, they are associated with fresh and clean.    Uplifting and motivating too!

Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood and Gardenia for romance

Floral and woody scents, help create a sensuous and soft atmosphere. Rose scented soap and body products will make you feel special and pampered.

Vanilla, Coffee, Nut scents - welcome home

You've maybe read some of the tips written for people selling a home, advising them to have coffee brewing or something baking before a scheduled visit.  All the old fashioned scents, like apple pie, fruits, anything baked, all bring to mind the wonderful scents of a fresh bakery, an old timey kitchen or a favorite grand-parent.    In winter time, bathing in a soothing vanilla scented bubble bath, or using vanilla or caramel scented soap will help warm up and banish the cold  'blahs'.