The Healing Powers of Essential Oils
Our sense of smell may well be one of our most instinctive faculties; consider those immediate responses triggered by catching a whiff of the bins as you stroll down the street. Or perhaps encountering someone who passes by, leaving you curious about the fragrance they're wearing. A recent study* discovered that we retain 35% of what we smell, in contrast to a mere 5% of what we see.
Emotional reaction
It's intriguing to note that the olfactory system resides in the same brain region responsible for our creativity, emotions, and memory. This alignment makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Fragrances possess the remarkable ability to summon forth moments and places we might have believed were long forgotten. Suddenly, the scent of a childhood delight can transport you back to the instant you tightly clutched your pocket money while entering the local store.
According to the Sense of Smell Institute (yes, it's a legitimate entity), the average individual can discern over 10,000 distinct odors. Furthermore, these scents have been observed to wield both positive and negative influences on our mood and behaviour.
How our scent can help:
Inflammation: Frankincense oil has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce inflammation in the body associated with conditions like arthritis and asthma when used topically or aromatically. Throughout the day our bodies react to various stimuli and stresses; this can lead to a build-up of cortisol, the stress hormone, which in turn can cause inflammation and even skin issues. By opting for a blend of relaxing scents like our Whipped Shea Butter with Frankincense and Ylang Ylang, the body finds its own equilibrium again.
Relief: Fragrance has been found to help relieve depression and even pain, simply by giving the patient something that distracts the mind. It’s also great when it comes to your bedtime routine; have a cut-off time for social media and screens, rub and breathe in the fragrance of our Whipped Shea Butter with Ylang Ylang and Bergamot essential oil after a shower.
Increase energy: When you’re having a hard time waking up in the morning, a great fragrance to wake up to is our Crisp Fall Night Reed Diffuser, with a mix of Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lavender oils. Just sit there for a few minutes and let the fragrance do its work; you’ll be attacking your to-do list in no time. If you need energy on the go try carrying our, Whipped Shea Butter with Sweet Orange or Our Cedarwood, Lavender and Lemon Body Butter made with essential oils to sniff through the day to help energise you.