It’s been a tough year and a half for all of us. The collective grief that we’ve all been feeling, the sleepless nights, the building anxiety all takes a toll on our well-being, our mood, and our functioning. There are so many things that you can do to work through these like journaling, seeking professional help, meditation, and practising mindfulness.
Another thing that really helps is aromatherapy. Smelling essential oils or rubbing them on your skin or taking a bath with them helps with improving your sleep cycle and calming stresses. So, to help you uplift your mood a little, we spoke to perfumist, Abdulla Ajmal, Business Mentor, NHA Division,
Ajmal & Sons, India to understand which scents should you start smelling.
5 Of The Most Soothing Scents That Will Help You Feel Calmer
Vanilla
Why is the sweet smell of vanilla so comforting for most? For most of us, it’s like a passport back to the comfort of being taken care of and rewarded with treats in childhood. Think of delightful childhood experiences –having a scoop of vanilla ice cream or having that piece of freshly baked cake – you get will the drift. Memories apart, there is scientific evidence that proves that the fragrance of vanilla reduces stress and anxiety. It’s one of the most universally pleasing smells.
Lavender
The perfumer explains that lavender is one of the most popular scents for relaxing, and with good reason. The scent of lavender relaxes the brain waves, and that’s why luxury spas and hotels popularly use it as their in-house blends. This fragrance oil has many calming properties, and it can help release tension, soothe racing thoughts and help you unwind. It’s an ideal scent to turn to calm down after a long tiring day.
Lemongrass
“Lemongrass is refreshing and has a clean aroma, and though extracted out of the grass, its odour profile is herbaceous and citrusy. It’s one of the unique smells, like lavender, which soothes and energise you at the same time. Just a whiff of this oil is good to pick up your sagging spirits,” says Ajmal.
“The word that I associate with lemongrass is sanguine. For wellbeing benefits, use the essential oil in a diffuser or watch out for lemongrass in your skincare and personal care essentials,” he adds.
Rose
“The smell of rose is documented to soothe the nerves and promote a sense of wellbeing besides stimulating our nervous system. History is full of anecdotes of how Queens like Cleopatra and Noor Jahan used rose in their lives to keep calm and unwind. Since pure rose oil is so precious that it remains inaccessible to most, I suggest trying geranium for a similar odour profile. Like the rose, it alleviates anxiety and instils a feel-good vibe,” explains the expert.
Rosemary
Rosemary has energising and relaxing effects, so if you need to improve your concentration and reduce stress while working on a significant project, you should try it out. Rosemary has an acrid aroma profile that gives a jerk to your senses and almost can bring you to the present moment. Inhalation of rosemary along with lavender can help with mental clarity. You can use even brew yourself a cup of rosemary tea to get over the feel of procrastination.
Students, take notes.
Breathe in, breathe out. You got this!
Featured Image: Pexels
