How fragrance can influence your state of mind

How fragrance can influence your state of mindWords by Dennie Wallace, Founder of Wallace & Co.

Aromatherapy is found in many cultures and is seen as a wonderful natural remedy to soothe the human psyche. Smell is one of the most powerful and sensitive senses, with the ability to transport you to a memory or time with the simplest of scents. During different states of mind, you can actually enhance or aid your mood simply by taking a whiff of certain natural and essential oils, whether it is found in a perfume, incense, oil burner, candle, kanikin or reed diffuser. And with the current situation, now is the perfect time to embrace scent in your every day. As the founder of aromatherapy brand, Wallace & Co., here are some of my go-to scents to aid or enhance different moods throughout the day:

For happiness

A lot of people love the smell of freshly cut grass as it reminds them of happy, summer days. This is why scents with grassy notes, such as cedar, vetiver and oakmoss, can have a positive impact on your mental state, increasing your feelings of happiness.

To reduce stress and increase relaxation

Lavender and jasmine are most commonly used in aromatherapy for relaxation. The fragrance from the oils of the lavender and jasmine plants are believed to help promote calmness and wellness. Lavender is also said to help reduce stress, anxiety, and possibly even mild pain while jasmine has properties that promote optimism and has uplifting qualities.

A sensual feeling

Warm and woody, the scent of amber creeps up as the body warms up. As an oil, amber can enhance intimacy by upping blood circulation and revitalizing hormones. The scent is sultry and seductive without being too overpowering.

For romance

Vanilla is a scent we all recognize — it’s sweet, warm and soothing. It’s also a natural amative. Historically — from the Mayans to the French — the scent has been connected to romance and passion. Its sweetness can also reduce drowsiness and help ease tension and stress. As working from home can cause stress levels to rise, anger can easily seep into your day with one wrong message. Calm these negative feelings through citrus and lemon scents, which have clarifying properties. Ylang-ylang has also been seen as a natural sedative, perfect if you feel your temper start to rise.

For a pick me up

Rosemary and cinnamon are the perfect pick me up, especially at the start of the week when you might feel less than energized. The smell of rosemary can offer improvement in memory as well as can reduce headaches, battle exhaustion and aid with possible mental fatigue. Cinnamon on the other hand also has properties which can improve your focus.

If you have a cold

Peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree can be found in many cold and flu medicines as they have healing properties that can assist in clearing sinuses. Try deeply inhaling the steam from a bowl of warm water that has a few drops of any of these essential oils and you will be feeling better in no time.

Your emotions can be interconnected with scent so next time you have a certain feeling, why not try using different aromas that correspond with it. You might just reach a whole new level of bliss! For more information, visit www.wallaceand.co