The Science of Scent

You know that feeling when you breathe the scent of blooming flowers? Or the uplifting sensation of smelling freshly squeezed oranges? Good smells smell good, and they can also have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing. 

Your smell receptors send information to your olfactory bulb, which is snuggled near the front of your brain, and is part of the limbic system, which is involved in memories, behaviours, and emotional responses. Because smells bypass the thalamus (the brain's routing centre) and goes straight to regions like the amygdala and hippocampus, it holds a unique, almost instantaneous power to trigger profound emotions and memories: you can use smell as a very powerful way to positively calm your nervous system, decrease a stress response in your body, and prevent, relieve, or even reverse symptoms of stress. 

Stress can cause physical pain, migraines, fatigue, mental distress and has a direct impact on your digestive system. By stimulating your body’s natural ability to rest and restore, you can prevent, relieve, and reverse symptoms of stress. 

What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a practice that utilises plant extracts in the form of essential oils as a healing modality. Choosing the right essential oil can aid rest and sleep, help you focus or study, boost confidence, or inspire motivation. 

What Aromatherapy isn’t
There is a significant difference between natural essential oils and synthetic fragrances. Aromas from natural sources trigger specific receptors and have effects on the nervous system that might be calming or stimulating. Conversely, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives such as parabens or phthalates, which are commonly found in regular cosmetics, household cleaners, and toiletries, can stimulate olfactory receptors but also act as neurotoxins, respiratory irritators, and hormone disrupters. They can be highly lipophilic, meaning that they accumulate in fatty tissues, including the brain, causing long-term accumulation and disruption. But this is a whole other article so I won’t go too far down the rabbit hole today. But do rest assured that at The Apothecary Shop, we stock products that have absolutely no, or very few very low-risk ingredients throughout, and are constantly monitoring our products, and global scientific studies in order to keep abreast of this. 

Which smell to choose
Many people have personal associations with specific smells, but generally you’ll find that certain essential oil groups create generic responses: 
🌸 Flowers, such as lavender and chamomile are calming and heal the heart
🍊 Citruses, such as lime and orange, cleanse and uplift the mood
🌿 Leaves, such as peppermint and rosemary, open the airways and revitalise a sluggish system
The best way to find the best essential oil for you is to use your own sense of smell and see how you respond. 

Find simple ways to include smells in your day-to-day life to improve your overall wellbeing: Try having a relaxing smelly bath with your favourite essential oil and bath salts; take in the olfactory pleasures of the foods you make and eat; luxuriate over the aroma of a herbal tea; have a collection of essential oils that you can choose from depending on your mood or activity. And, of course, stop every now and then and smell the roses!

Here’s just a few suggestions of specific essential oils and some of their uses and emotional benefits: 

Bergamot: 
Confidence, self-acceptance, hope, optimism.
Cedarwood:
Repels moths and pests. Great for scalp health. 
Belonging, grounding, feeling connected, dissipates loneliness. 
Frankincense: 
King of the oils: Great for the brain and the skin. Can be used for bruising and inflammation.
Clarity, wisdom, meditation, truth, connection. 
Geranium: 
Balancer for female hormones.
Emotional healing, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance.
Lavender: 
Anti-parasitic and anti-microbial. Good for burns, bites, and stings. 
Communication, self-expression, inner-calm. 
Lemon: 
Antioxidant. Great for cleaning and cleansing. 
Focus, attention, learning, acuity. 
Peppermint: 
Digestive discomfort, Muscular tension and aches, clear the sinuses.
The oil of a buoyant heart, relief, renewal, clarity.
Rosemary: 
Learning and remembering. Great for stimulating hair growth. Respiratory health. 
Knowledge, wisdom, inspiration. 
Tea Tree:
Anti-fungal and antibacterial. 
Boundaries, resilience, self-confidence to withdraw from toxic relationships.
Wild Orange: 
Abundance, positivity, creativity, playfulness, joy. 

A few final tips

• Be playful when blending oils in your diffuser or oil burner to find the blends that you enjoy.
• I love adding peppermint to anything to add a refreshing lift.
• Add rosemary essential oil to your shampoo or put a couple of drops on your hands and rub into your scalp when in the shower - not only will it support your hair growth and health, but it also provides a wonderfully aromatic experience that's great for your lungs and respiratory health. 
• Put some peppermint oil into some water in a spray bottle and spray on your body to cool down in hot weather.
• Add lavender if you have sun burn to sooth and heal the skin. 
• Put a drop of peppermint oil straight onto the back of your neck or onto the soles of your feet to cool down.

Be mindful that all information here is meant to be informative and educational and should not be taken as medical advice. Essential oils cannot be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment or advice. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking prescription medication, then you may consult your GP, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner before using essential oils - there are some that can cause problems during pregnancy or breast feeding.