At some point in your life, you’ve probably experienced the power of a scent to bring back memories, evoke feelings, or even provide a sense of comfort. Simply put, the ability of smell to influence peoples’ emotions and behavior has long been established – and interestingly, it can be explored through the practice of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of plant-sourced essential oils or “aromas” to stimulate pleasure, mood, and overall wellbeing. The practice is said to date back to ancient Egypt and while science is still catching up on aromatherapy, all evidence points to it having numerous physical and psychological benefits, thanks to the complex relationships between smell and psychology.

The Link between Smell and Memory

Your olfactory system (which controls your sense of smell) is the oldest and most powerful of all senses. The smell of something can automatically take us back in time and invoke strong memories. For example, the smell of cinnamon rolls can take you back to your childhood – or, the smell of the ocean can quickly remind you of summers spent during your best beach trips. This phenomenon is known as the “Proust effect”, named after the French novelist Marcel Proust, who famously wrote about how the smell of a madeleine – a traditional French pastry – had the power to take him back in time and evoke strong memories of his childhood.

The link between smell and memory is so profound that it can even affect our food cravings. We can all relate to the idea of ordering our hangover ‘cure’ on a Sunday morning and the smell taking us back to weekend nights out. This is because smells that trigger pleasurable memories can also cause us to crave the food associated with them. The same goes for smells that bring back unpleasant memories – they can stop us from craving the food associated with them.

Science Of Smell

When you smell something, odors are carried through your nose to a part of your brain known as the olfactory bulb. From there, signals are sent to the other parts of your brain known as the amygdala and the hippocampus – both of which are responsible for forming memories and emotional responses.

This explains why we naturally react to certain smells – or why certain scents can quickly make you feel relaxed, or energized. For instance, lavender is known to be a calming scent and can be used to alleviate stress and anxiety. Similarly, citrus scents like lemon are energizing and can be used to enhance focus and concentration.

Aromatherapy: How Scents Help To Shape Our Mood

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant oils, or essences, to aid physical and psychological wellbeing. An aromatherapist works with individualized essential oil blends depending on the patient’s needs, and how they interact with the person’s naturally occurring chemical structures. The effects of aromatherapy are not only understood to be psychological, but also physiological – as the healing scents have a direct reaction on the body.

“Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, nurture, and promote the health of body, mind, and spirit.” – Shelley White

Essential oils are believed to be beneficial both to the body, such as helping with digestion, and to the mind, providing mental clarity and relaxation. By using scent therapy, people can work on manifesting their intentions, setting the mood for meditation, and creating a relaxed atmosphere.

The Benefits Of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is believed to benefit people in many ways – from helping with digestive issues and alleviating anxiety, to providing a good night’s sleep, improving mental clarity, and reducing stress levels. Despite these widespread benefits, scientific research on aromatherapy is still relatively new.

In one study published in the Frontiers in Psychology, researchers at the University of Vienna tested the effects of aromatherapy on the stress levels of students by exposing them to the scent of lavender. The students who experienced the lavender scent reported significantly lower levels of stress than those who experienced scents of no therapeutic value – a result that suggests that the scent of lavender has stress-relieving properties.

Furthermore, experts in the field have theorized that aromatherapy’s benefits can extend beyond physical and psychological wellbeing. For example, some believe that it can also help with spiritual connection – as the use of essential oils and incense in religious ceremonies has been practiced for centuries.

Conclusion

The relationship between smell and psychology is an extremely fascinating one and there’s no denying that the power of scent has an undeniable impact on our wellbeing. The science behind aromatherapy is still relatively new, however there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that supports its effectiveness and benefits. Whether it’s the smell of lavender’s calming effects or the energizing aroma of lemon, aromatherapy is a holistic practice that can be used to both nurture and heal the mind, body and spirit.

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Tags: Emotional impacts, Memory

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