aromatherapy: lavender

Herby, nutty, floral... lavender (lavandula angustifolia) is a classic healing herb. It is commonly used in aromatherapy to alleviate anxiety & depression and to promote calm & relaxation.

Research studies have observed that lavender oil has similar effects as diazepam (valium) in calming down the nervous system. Lavender contains high levels of linalool, an organic compound with sweet & sedative properties. Try* adding a few drops to your pillowcase for a good night's rest, or keep in a spray bottle for misting over your face on busy days.

A few things inspired by the scent of lavender:
1 | NOW Foods essential oil: I liked the simple design of this bottle, but you may want to sniff around and pick a lavender that smells best to you. Oils vary in sweetness, sharpness, & woodiness.

2 | L'Occitane en Provence sachet: This lovely cotton bag is filled with dried lavender flowers, to naturally scent your drawers and closet, or even place under your pillow. You could also make your own...

3 | Jeni's Wildberry Lavender ice cream: According to the description, this magical ice cream is "fruity, with brambly berry flavors, citrus zest, exotic spices, and lavender essential oil." 

4 | Pree Brulée necklace: A statement necklace.

5 | Essie nail polish in St. Lucia Lilac: A creamy, relaxing shade -- almost like a nude if a color could be one. Also check out Revlon's Parfumerie nail collection with their Lavender Soap scent.

If you have any further lavender recommendations, please do let me know!

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*Note: Not all essential oils are safe for use by children, pregnant women, or individuals with medical conditions. Please consult a doctor and research thoroughly before using essential oils for yourself. Part of the Aromatherapy series.

aromatherapy: sweet orange

Sweet orange (citrus sinensis) oil has an uplifting, warm scent, like a freshly peeled clementine.

It is thought to help with sadness and anxiety, and promote digestion and detoxification in the body. Try adding a drop or two to a glass of cold water, and sipping slowly. It also has effective anti-bacterial properties, so you could add it to a diluted vinegar solution for wiping down your counters!

A few things inspired by the scent of sweet orange:
1 | DoTerra essential oil: This company makes some high-quality essential oils and this one is derived from wild orange. This link offers good suggestions on how to use this oil & why.

2 | Threla hydrating facial lotion: My go-to daily facial moisturizer. It contains argan & rosehip seed oil and is lightly scented with sweet orange oil, blackcurrant absolute and apricot extract. Beautiful! Threla is owned by a most wonderful scientist with a passion for developing safe & effective beauty products.

3 | Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne: The description alone is uplifting: "Clementine flower sparkles over a heart of orange blossom and water lily, with warm undertones of vetiver." Word has it that Kate Middleton reaches for this fragrance too!

4 | Art print by Lucile's Kitchen: How lovely is this organic watercolour print?

5 | Photograph: Saw this simple image via Lauren's Tumblr...

aromatherapy: an introduction

Smell is the most ancient of our five senses. It is the sense that we rely on most when we first come into the world.

Interestingly, our sense of smell is also intimately linked to our emotions. When we smell something, the odor molecules travel up the nose to millions of little receptors connected to the olfactory bulb in the brain. The neural information received by the olfactory bulb is then sent out to various parts of the brain, including straight to key systems (e.g., limbic) that govern our memory & emotions.

So when we smell,

we feel.
This is where aromatherapy comes in.

Aromatherapy can be defined as the use of Good Smells (often scented essential oils) to enhance physical and/or emotional wellbeing. Essential oils are the aromatic compounds extracted in concentrated form from plants, usually through the process of steam distillation. Popular oils include extracts from florals (e.g., rose), citruses (e.g., lemon), and herbs (e.g., rosemary).

Different oils are said to have specific mood-related properties. For example:

APPLICATION

How to harness the effects of aromatherapy?

First, pick your essential oils* according to your desired effect. Are you looking for something relaxing, or energizing? Do certain smells remind you of something happy? Do your research.

Second, choose your mode of application. Essential oils can be inhaled in the air or applied onto the skin. If applied, however, essential oils should rarely be used at full strength, and are best diluted in some kind of neutral carrier like jojoba oil.

Breathe, and enjoy the moment -- appreciate this ancient system that connects mood to our sense of smell.

Do you have a favourite scent? What effects does it have on your mood? I look forward to featuring specific essential oils in upcoming posts!

*Note: Not all essential oils are safe for use by children and/or pregnant women. Please consult a doctor and research thoroughly before using essential oils for yourself.