It is true that many things can affect a person’s mood, but sometimes, it is not always the obvious culprit! There has been some mainstream knowledge of scent affecting mood (think lavender for calming properties); however, scent can have a much stronger grip on people than may be realized.
This piece will look at how different scents can evoke different moods and how to use them for the benefits!
Why Does Scent Affect Mood?
From the moment a baby leaves the womb, this newly formed human being is using all its developed senses to make sense of the world around them. These senses are touch, taste, sight, sound, and of course, smell!
From an early age, humans are taught to decipher surroundings by using these senses to protect from any potential dangers (such as food that’s gone off, or a fire!), and to survive.
Scent also has a powerful tie to memory, which means depending on someone’s certain experience with a scent, that smell could then trigger strong memories, emotions, and in turn, affect mood.
Because humans’ senses and mood are intrinsically linked, it is no surprise that scent can affect mood; however, experts are still not entirely sure how certain scents can impact on mood.
To try out different scents to personally see which evokes certain moods, head over to scentmagic.com!
Aromatherapy and Mood
Aromatherapy has been around for at least 6,000 years, which means it is definitely not a new practice! The word aromatherapy is an amalgamation of aroma – meaning smell or fragrance, and therapy – a type of treatment.
It is said that certain fragrances can ignite different responses from the body. Some examples of this would be:
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant plant, native to the Mediterranean border. It has an impressive forty-seven varieties and shows off a beautiful purple flower on long, pale green stalks. This stunning plant is well known for evoking a sense of calm and relaxation throughout the body and the mind. It is said that the oil from this plant helps with a few common ailments such as sleeplessness and anxiety.
Citrus, Peppermint, Rosemary
While citrus, peppermint, and rosemary are all different from each other, they all have one thing in common, and that is their uplifting properties. Fresh scents such as citrus, peppermint, and rosemary can help the mind to be refreshed and awoken. Simply sniff these scents to help increase mental stimulation, soothe emotions, and boost production of serotonin, the neurochemical which makes people feel happy.
Jasmine, Black Pepper
Jasmine has been known to be used as an aphrodisiac, inhaled to improve mood, reduce stress, and also reduce food cravings. Black pepper is also known to be a stimulus of the brain, with research suggesting it can in fact improve brain function, which is intrinsically linked to mood.
There are many different ways that scent can affect mood, and it is important to do adequate research to make sure scents are not causing the opposite effect!
