We know that taking vacations, doing exercise, making changes in your work-life balance, and getting more sleep can reduce stress. But did you know that scents and fragrances have a powerful impact on your state of mind? When the world is changing quickly and things feel out of control, bring yourself back to peace with targeted self-aromatherapy.
Create a ritual to prompt a state of relaxation
An important psychological element of stress relief is rituals. Returning home after a day of work, taking off your shoes, and putting on comfy clothing is one universal ritual that signals to our bodies and minds that the job has ended. These actions are subtle moments of permission to rest. However, during the pandemic, many of us have experienced life-altering changes to our work patterns— from working extended hours, to working fewer hours, to working constantly from home.
Scents can be used to create or reinvent the structure of your day. When you work from home, being constantly in the same physical space may lead to a mental inability to relax. If you work too many hours, you may find that the days and nights combine unpleasantly into one unending week. Unemployment can take a mental toll by leaving you struggling to discover what to wake up to in the mornings.
Section out each day by thinking about when you need to enter a new frame of mind. Then, use a scent at that designated time. It is best to create a habit— light the candle or turn on the diffuser at the designated time daily.
You can also use scents in distinct locations to partition your physical surroundings. For example, the pandemic has pushed many desk workers into a permanent state of home office. If you share a space with a partner or roommates, you may be limited to working and resting in the same space, like a living room, bedroom, or common area. Use fragrance to designate one part of your home office as a rest location, and use another fragrance to designate your workstation. As you move from one location to another, your olfactory senses will take notice of the transition. These simple adjustments can provide your mind with some distance from your surroundings.
LATTICIA Organics
Ritual | Hand Poured Essential Oil Candle
£35.00 | 170 ml / 6 oz
Experience the zesty scent of Lemongrass to uplift and inspire. Permit your mind to find peace with tranquil Lavender. Let thoughts flow freely as Geranium and warming Cedarwood cocoon the room and reset the ambience. Made with sustainably farmed coconut wax.
Maru Oils
Unwind Blend | 100% Essential Oil Blend
£12.99 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
No rush. No pressure. Just pure peace of mind and rest for your body. As the name suggests, unwind after a long day and feel a sense of wholesomeness in the comfort of your own home, in your own time. This blend will help balance your emotions and rest your mind. It combines the soothing nature of Lavender, Lemongrass, Citronella and Peppermint.
Okiki
£25.00 | 220 ml / 7.76 oz
The blend of scents includes rich, warm and smoky Oud wood and a hint of Damask Rose for a gentle and relaxing atmosphere. When you light this candle, you can sit back and unwind to the sounds of the crackling wick. Light at bath time when meditating or simply fill the air of your home after a stressful day.
Haoma
Night Mist | Pillow & Room Mist
£34.00 | 100 ml / 3.38 oz
Hand-blended with certified organic essential oils including Clary Sage, Palmarosa and Ylang Ylang to help you create a peaceful haven for yourself. Spray this on your pillows, bedding and your body for ultimate comfort.
Marie Hunter Beauty
£31.00 | 312 ml / 11 oz
Inspired by freshly cut leather goods, this signature candle will spice up any room, creating a luxe warm mood. Imagine yourself at a leather lounge at home. The lavishness of leather and suede is captured in this scent with warm woods, rich amber and spice.
Move forward from heavy emotions with new scents
Losing someone or something is never easy. Nothing is more painful than longing to be with a loved one. Aromas are a powerful trigger for memories.
Sudden exposure to scents associated with memories of things, places or people we have lost, can be traumatic or even put us into an uncontrollable state of despair. Even more than the things someone left behind, it can be their smell that lingers on the objects which remind us overwhelmingly of their presence.
When you are ready to move forward, or if you feel that your grief has lasted too long and your ability to grow is being hampered, consider whether certain aromas are involuntarily bringing you pain. If the time is right, and you feel you are ready to, you can introduce a new smell into your life to assist yourself with moving on.
Scents can also help you access places you can no longer visit. Imagine learning that your childhood home was sold by your parents while you were living abroad. With no chance to say goodbye, you may be plagued with a feeling of rootless regret. If you can bring the scent of what you love into your life from time to time, you can gain comfort at a time and place of your choosing. Light a candle that smells just like the flowers in your garden, or spray a mist that reminds you of your father's baking. Revisit beloved cities that you are unable to physically visit by conjuring their essence.
ELM RD. Studio
Intimacy | Aromatherapy Scented Travel Candle
£10.00 | 60 ml / 55 g
Intimacy is a unique blend of eleven natural essential oils, including rose absolute, ylang-ylang, frankincense, rosewood, petitgrain and neroli. A scent inspired by the coordinates of 45.4408° N, 12.3155° E. Imagine a gondola gliding through the tranquil water of the Venetian canal.
ELM RD. Studio
Happiness | Aromatherapy Scented Travel Candle
£10.00 | 60 ml / 55 g
The citrus notes in this scent are a trusted pick-me-up when feeling glum or stressed. A blend of 11 natural oils, including bergamot, neroli, mandarin, rosewood, geranium, rosemary and pine needle. Inspired by the location at 39.4699° N, 0.3763° W. Imagine strolling through a citrus grove, surrounded by orange blossoms, yellow fruit and bright green, waxy leaves on a sunny day.
Terres d'Afrique
£48.00 | 12 ml / 0.4 Fl g
Remember home. Crafted from three unusual African resins, omumbiri, omutati and opoponax. The smell is reminiscent of the biome of the Kaokoveld in Namibia – golden and honeyed, with a nutty, caramel toffee and base notes of earthy resins and warm amber.
Maru Oils
Energise Blend | 100% Essential Oil Blend
£12.99 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
The perfect blend for an uplifting aroma. The blend combines the natural extracts of Rosewood, Mandarin and Geranium to produce a stimulating scent to help get you through the day. Give yourself an invigorating boost.
Maru Oils
Goodnight Blend | 100% Essential Oil Blend
£12.99 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
If you are struggling to quiet your thoughts before bed, this is for you. For a natural way to help you drift off, this blend combines the calming aroma of Lavender with the sweet scent of Marjoram. Filling the air with this lavender-enriched blend will set the mood for a good sleep.
ABA Love Apothecary
Wanderlust | Room & Linen Spray
£24.00 | 120 ml / 4 oz
Experience an uplifting blend of wood and citrus-like lavender notes. This blend of 100% natural, wildcrafted essential oils and be spritzed on your textiles to give them a new life.
Kokoa Eco Beauty
Dream of Clouds | Organic Pillow Spray & Fabric Mist
£16.00 | 50 ml / 1.8 Fl oz
The warm base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and vanilla are coupled with the light and fresh scents of pine and fir trees. These oils have been chosen not only for their delightful scent but their proven ability to aid relaxation for a good night of sleep.
Use aromas on the body to ease pain, alter the mood and elevate your mind
Simple moments of peace can be achieved throughout a busy day by applying scents directly to the body. Solid perfumes, rollerball essential oils blends, and travel-sized fragrance sprays are powerful accessories. Made to be inconspicuous and easy to carry, their simplicity allows for multipurpose usage. Use for de-escalating troubling emotions or stress, as a beauty regime refresher, to transition from work to play, or to stay awake naturally without the help of caffeine.
Directly applying scents to the body can also assist with pain management. Aromatherapy is effective because it directly affects the part of the brain, the amygdala, that manages emotions. This has important consequences because the thinking part of the brain can’t inhibit the effects of the scent, meaning you feel the benefits instantaneously. When using scents to manage physical pain and irritation from headaches, arthritis, allergies, injury, menstruation, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and more, limit your exposure to ensure their efficacy. If exposed to a smell for longer periods, your brain will stop responding to them. Keep it short and sweet to ensure you experience a positive impact.
ebo
£12.00 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
A desk drawer and handbag essential accessory. Use it on the daily commute. The sweet-smelling eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, lemon and clove bud oils in this essential mood oil will strengthen you. Use anywhere you need a fortifying boost; travelling, in-flight or as a handbag or desk drawer staple.
Urban Serenité
Essential Oil Roller Blend | Menstrual Cramp Relief
£11.00 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
A fragrant mingling of clary sage and ginger helps ease menstrual cramps, relieve muscle aches and naturally mitigate other common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of an aromatherapy roller expertly designed for "that time of the month."
Urban Serenité
Essential Oil Roller Blend | Headache Relief
£11.00 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
Formulated using an aromatic blend of oils, this headache relief roll-on quickly soothes stress tension, migraines and sinus headaches the all-natural way. Simply roll a layer of aromatherapy oil on your temples to experience rapid headache relief to reduce dependency on medication.
Urban Serenité
Essential Oil Roller Blend | Allergy Relief
£11.00 | 10 ml / 0.33 Fl oz
Stop sneezing and sniffling. Created with peppermint and lavender essential oils that naturally soothes common symptoms of allergies. Roll on the aromatic EO blend to gain control of sneezing and sniffling to experience better breathing. Made with 100% plant-based and natural ingredients.
Haoma
Lavender Organic Single Note Eau de Parfum
£45.00 | 50 ml / 1.7 oz
Imagine carrying the lush purple fields of Lavender with you everywhere you go. Fresh, confident, attractive and timeless.
Kalmar
£40.00 | 6 g / 0.21 oz
Allow the deeply relaxing Vetiver to quiet your mind. Let the aroma of Frankincense encourage deep breathing and focus your spiritual awareness. Ground yourself with relaxing Benzoin and the restorative scent of Moss.
Haoma
Orange Organic Single Note Eau de Parfum
£45.00 | 50 ml / 1.7 oz
An alternative to synthetically fuelled fragrances, this sweet and refreshing perfume will quickly become an everyday staple. Wear it casually when you need to get a fresh burst of sweet oranges. Embrace the scent of intensely sweet and lightly spiced candied oranges in a bottle.
Vetivert&Co
ELEMI & VETIVERT 'DESTRESS' BODY OIL
£25.00 | 100 ml / 3.3 oz
A blend of floral and citrus notes with an undertone of Vetivert to destress the mind and body. The light, deeply hydrating and skin-repairing body oil featuring Argan and Calendula Oils. Deep nourishment and deep repair for tired muscles and thirsty skin.
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Sources
Cronkleton, E. (2019, March 8). Aromatherapy Uses and Benefits. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-aromatherapy
Try Aromatherapy for Pain Relief. (2021, May 8). Arthritis Foundation. http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/aromatherapy-herb-garden/
