Wellness Wednesday | The Power of Scent
Each week we’re sharing top tips from our team on how to get the most out of your wellness routine.
This week: We’re talking about the power of scent its ability to affect our mood and help us recollect memories from our past.
Scent is one of our strongest senses. Unlike vision or sound, we can’t turn smell off, which means we’re always subconsciously in tune with the various scents swirling around us. Lighting a candle or spritzing a perfume has the power to adjust our mood and bring back memories from years prior.
The olfactory system
Otherwise known as our sense of smell, the olfactory system is directly linked to our emotions. This is because the nerves in the olfactory system are connected to our limbic system — the part of our brain that involves our emotional and behavioral responses. This means that our brains associate various aromas with specific memories. Scent can bring moments back to us that we’ve long since forgotten about, making it a great way to improve your memory and rediscover forgotten moments.
Boost your wellness routine
Aromas, essential oils, and incense have been used during meditation practices for centuries. Scent has the power to influence our mood and give us feelings of comfort and serenity while reducing stress. There are a variety of studies linking the effects of aromatherapy to better well-being because it strengthens the mind-body connection. Businesses everywhere are recognizing the big impact that scent has and are now starting to create fragrances that focus on improving our emotional state.
Improve your productivity
There are specific scents associated with productivity, which can be especially helpful during work hours. Lemon has clarifying properties that help to improve energy and minimize anxiety. Lavender has calming properties that help to soothe and help monitor emotional stress. Rosemary stimulates the mind and fights fatigue for the perfect morning pick-me-up. Check out this list of work-approve scents and their functions here.
Scent is a key ingredient for a cozy home. If you don’t have time in your schedule to spruce up your space, try an at-home clean with Alfred.