It may come as no surprise to you that I am somewhat addicted to buying candles and perfume, probably more so than clothing. There is just something so lovely about heading out for the day wearing a brand new scent and feeling sophisticated and confident, then returning home and lighting a seasonal candle which captures your mood perfectly. This is the power of scents.
We all have our favourite natural scents: freshly cut grass, bread baking in the oven, brewing hot coffee...
But many scents are so powerful that they can actually have positive effects on your mental health. Every time I sniff a candle I like, my spirits are instantly uplifted and I often feel like I have created a space of tranquillity and relaxation within my own bedroom. According to an article by Sean Hefferman, our sense of smell is our most sensitive sense (SCENTS-itive, get it?). Similarly, research does support the fact that fragrances do reduce both physical and mental symptoms of stress in individuals.
As humans, I don't feel like we pay enough attention to what our noses are telling us. We aren't like our furry companion animals who can sniff out food and beg for it with wagging tails, but we still have noses which do detect fragrances and send subconscious signals to our brains to make us feel a certain way. Scents and fragrances can also trigger memories. you may have smelt a poignant smell in your childhood during a particular event and if you smelt it again, your mind would be transported back there. Like you're back in your Grandma's house eating gingerbread or something.
So, now that you know how amazing smells are, you don't necessarily have to buy a candle or burn some incense and meditate. You can simply be more mindful of what you can smell in your day-to-day life. Your house will have a distinct smell, the air outside will smell different depending on the weather. Now, I'm not expecting you to go and sniff something unpleasant or anything like that, I'm simply suggesting to bring an increased sense of awareness to fragrances. Stop relying on sight, sound and touch and pay more attention to our neglected sense of smell.
According to the book Calm by Michael Acton Smith, certain scents can boost our mood and reduce stress levels. These include Rosemary, Jasmine, Lavendar, Citrus, Sandalwood and Peppermint oil. If it weren't for this book, I would never have actually bought myself some Sandalwood incense, which I adore and sometimes rely on to lift my lows!
Thank you so much for reading, please do let me know your favourite scents with a comment below!
