
Read each of the next lines slowly, one at a time.
The smell of fresh-cut grass.
Home-baked bread straight from the oven.
Smoke from a campfire.
A chlorinated pool.
Your high school crush’s perfume or cologne.
Chances are good that as you read each of the descriptions above, you instantly recalled the scent associated with that image. Also, without consciously thinking about it, each of those scents likely brought up a memory and/or a feeling. Why is that? Well, scientists tell us that smell is processed in the same area of our brains as our feelings and emotions, so that is why the three may be closely linked. Whatever the reason, we can use this connection to our advantage when we choose to use scent to help us process, regulate, or support our emotions.

How important is our sense of smell? According to Dawn Goldworm, it is pretty important! She is the co-founder and scent director of her “olfactive branding company,” 12.29. Goldworm works to design custom fragrances for celebrity clients such as Nike. She explains the importance of scent saying that smell is the only fully developed sense a baby has when they are still in the womb. Additionally, our sense of smell is our most developed sense until about age ten when we begin to rely more on sight. When you realize that “smell and emotion are stored as one memory,” you can see what an important role our sense of smell plays in our development and in how we process emotions and memories, especially those from our youth. You can read more about the importance of smell here or here. And if you really want to dig into the science behind scent, this Ted Talk is a deep dive into the chemistry, vibration, and smell.
So, if scent, memories, and emotions are all linked, then how can we use this knowledge to help us process, regulate, or support our emotions? That’s where aromatherapy and essential oils come in. According to this website, “Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being.” Many plants have been used for hundreds and even thousands of years for their beneficial properties. After all, who hasn’t heard to using lavender to help you sleep or been told to drink peppermint tea for an upset stomach? Now, however, with concentrated essential oils, we can get the benefits of using these time-tested plants without having to grow and harvest them ourselves.

Not only are essential oils concentrated and convenient, they are easy to use too! Aromatically, you can add some drops to a diffuser, put some on leather, wooden, or lava bead jewelry, rub some into your hair, or add to a spritz bottle and use as an air freshener. You can also apply many essential oils topically to your skin. Just be sure to avoid your eyes and ears and to dilute with a carrier oil if the oil is very strong. One of my favorite ways to use essential oils is to add a few drops to some Epsom salts and enjoy a relaxing, aromatic bath.
However you choose to enjoy them, you can use essential oils to help you work through negative emotions or support positive ones. The process of supporting positive ones is something that Jen O’Sullivan, certified French Medical French aromatherapist and author calls imprinting. She says, “Positive imprinting is a way to use specific smells to control emotional well-being. Simply use …any oil that generally you like the aroma of. Use that essential oil every time you are feeling amazing or in good spirits.” She says if you do this every day for 30 days, only when you are in a good mood, then you will begin to associate that scent with positive feelings and can then use it anytime you want to turn a bad mood into a good one.

Another way to help turn a bad mood around, especially if you don’t have 30 days to prepare, is to choose an oil that has already been shown to help with the specific feeling or emotion you are dealing with. Below is a list of oils you can use to deal with specific emotions. This list is not exhaustive, but it is a good place for you to get started. If you just don’t know what to use, you can’t go wrong with citrus oils and flowers to pick you up and boost your happy feelings, and tree scents or herbs to calm you down and help you feel grounded.





Whether you try scent imprinting with your favorite oil, or choose a specific oil to boost your mood, essential oils can become an important part in helping you support your emotional health through the amazing power of smell. If you're ready to start exploring essential oils, click here to set up an account and get started.
*Disclaimer:
This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.
If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.
The opinions and views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, health practice or other institution.
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