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Everything or At Least a Good Chunk of What You Need to Know About Your Olfactory Sense.
Now this is not an end all, be all post about 'mood fragrances' but I will touch on the more popular ones in this post. By the way, if you care to try any of these fragrances feel free to stop by the site and try it for yourself in a candle, a room spray or a car diffuser – and it's ok, it could totally be for experimental purposes (wink wink).
Did you know there are actually fragrances to boost your mood? Or scents for the mood that you want to be in?
So before we get into the different types of scents out there for your mood, I would like to touch on how strong the sense of smell actually is. Then I'll mention the connection your sense of smell has to your emotions and memory. Once I sum that all up then we'll get to what you really came here for, the big question of 'what fragrance do I need to buy to help me feel like ~xyz'.
#1: Facts about your Sense of Smell?
#2: The Connection Between your Sense of Smell and your Mood/Emotions/Memory?
#1: Facts about your Sense of Smell?
Did you know that your nose knows a lot? It is connected to so many things from memory to emotion to health. Read on because this section is full of 'did you know's'.
Humans can detect anywhere between 10,000 to 100 billion odors. Its so funny, you don't even recall that you can differentiate that many odors but you do and with that you associate certain odors with certain things. Whether it be good or bad definitely depends on the person, but everyday odors are triggers that lead to something else.
Did you know that like a fingerprint, each person has a unique smell print? That's why perfumes and colognes smell different to different people. That's why you see a black/blue dress or a white/gold dress (ugh remember that crazy phenomenon that was going around? I digress). The distinct ways we smell odor is highly influenced by genetics, diet and environmental factors.
Did you know that women have a stronger sense of smell than men? Well, this is a general conception, but this difference is believed to be due to a hormonal component women have that men do not. It heightens during pregnancy and during menstrual periods: I knew we were superheroes! Just kidding...everyone is a superhero in my book!
Did you know the sense of smell can be trained? Like training for anything you want to be better at, you can better your sense of smell too! It can be enhanced through practice. Pros like perfumers or sommeliers, a person who is an expert at wine, undergo extensive training to develop their olfactory skills.
There are so many facts about our sense of smell if I continued, you'll be reading forever. I just wanted to touch on some of the ones I felt were kind of cool to list here for your today. As a note, I'm no medical doctor but I do know how to research my butt off but your always welcome and advised to do your own research to find out more.
#2: The Connection Between your Sense of Smell and your Mood/Emotions/Memory
Now there is a whole science behind your sense of smell and fragrance molecules and sensory receptors and blah, blah, blah, blah. I won't go that deep into it, that's another blog for another day. But scientifically, there is evidence that "odors can elicit emotions and are linked to emotional memory". ~(Rolls, 2005)
There is a connection...which I'm pretty sure you already know associated with smell that sends information to different parts of the brain. For many years fragrant plants have been used for healing practices in Eastern medicine.
Take aromatherapy for instance, although there is little "scientific" evidence that aromatherapy does in fact have healing properties, it does however evoke memories when we smell certain things and can eventually lead or"trick" the mind into feeling a type of way once we smell it.
Scents like Lavender for example reminds us of calm and relaxation. But is that actually true, or do we just remember it to be that way for us at some point in time? Whether real or associated different fragrances have different effects on us and on our brain. Stick with me, while I get into a couple ones and exactly what they do.
#3: Fragrances to Boost your Mood?
The following are fragrances that evoke different things in us. Take a moment to find them in your garden, at a park when you are on a stroll with your kids or in the scent of your favorite candle (wink!).
A floral scent with fruity top notes and a little bit of spice. This scent is known to create a sense of alertness and can reduce depression. A lovely scent we have in our shop and my top favorite is 'Coco Butter Baby'. Top notes of spices, middle notes of, you guessed it Jasmine and amber, musk base notes. Inhaling Jasmine can promote relaxation, reduce stress levels and evoke a sense of happiness and well-being.
Another floral scent with a woodsy note is a well-renowned scent. Known for its calming and soothing effects on mood. Inhaling the aroma of lavender can help reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. Also known to improve mood and induce feelings of serenity and tranquility. Picture yourself, after a long, stressful day of work, you jump in your car to the scent of a lovely lavender car freshener. Try my Lavender Car Diffusers to keep that calming scent with you, the whole drive home. My lavender diffuser would be sure to calm and de-stress you after a long day.
This scent is known for its uplifting properties. Popular for its more astringent fragrance, similar to eucalyptus or camphor with an herbal feel. This refreshing scent is believed to stimulate the mind, enhance focus and improve cognitive performance. In my shop, I make mine with a mix of Sage. If you're one that loves the earth scents and looking for something to bring you clarity and positive vibes, try our Rosemary Sage Car Diffuser. It will definitely uplift your spirits and be ready to start your day, or night!
Now this scent is another infamous one. Citrus like oranges, lemons and grapefruits not only keeps your space smelling amazing and not to mention clean for days afterward but any fragrance with a citrus note evokes calming affects. If you like the citrusy, fresh scents you will sure love my 'Port Antonio' candle with Citrus top notes and Jasmine and Ginger middle notes, this one's sure to calm you down when you're feeling anxious or angry. If not that then you can always try my 'Love Tings' with fruity top notes and vanilla musk base notes you're sure to love. Sold as a candle or a room/linen spray, people do like the options in the scent of our custom blend 'Love Tings'. Citrus scents are known to have an uplifting and invigorating effect on mood. This vibrant fragrance helps to boost energy levels, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and promote positivity.
Peppermint
This is such an invigorating scent! Not only is it lovely to eat but this fragrance has been found to have mood enhancing effects and can help with increase alertness and improve focus. When used in an essential oil and rubbed on parts of the body, it's great to help open up sinuses when feeling sick. Peppermint is often associated with feelings of freshness and revitalization, making it an excellent choice when you're choosing a scent that promotes energy and mental clarity. My shop doesn't currently sell any Peppermint scented items but don't worry it's coming... it's in the goldilocks phase, I'm making sure it's just right!
This is a warm and comforting scent and is most often associated with relaxation and soothing the mood. Me personally I feel like I'm living in a bakery when I burn my 'Vanilla Sugar Daddy' candle. It provides a warm cozy feeling, not to mention a sense of calmness and reduction in anxiety. This sweet scent is also known for evoking feelings of happiness and contentment making it a popular choice when trying to create a cozy atmosphere.
This scent is one of my personal favorites. I burned one of my 'White Eucalyptus' candles almost every night while I was studying during pharmacy school. It just felt like it gave me a clear head to receive all the information that we were learning at the time. With a minty camphorous scent, with citrusy top notes and cedar and musk base notes not only provides clarity and boosts your mood but it clears your sinuses as well. Eucalyptus essential oils, when rubbed on your head, neck or wrist are also known to help with headaches or congestion. Provides clarity by giving you a clear mind and an uplifting spirit. If you don't like candles, don't worry I also have 'White Eucalyptus Room/Linen Spray'. I've had customers say they spray it on their pillows for a good night's rest and I can't blame them and it has magnificent lasting power.
So, I know, that was a lot. But look back at how much you learned just by reading about your nose. Could you imagine? You learned some quirky facts about smell, scientific but not so scientific information about the connection between smell and mood then you just briefed on some different fragrances that you can incorporate into your life to make you feel a certain way, and I have items for almost all if you ever wanted to try it out for yourself. Just follow the associated links above and they will take you to my website straight to each associated scent where you can shop around for yourself or get a gift for someone else. Need a mood booster for your friend or family member, well don't forget to pop in and visit www.kimiscustomcandles.com and check out all that we have.
There is plenty more educational blogs to come where I am going to teach you a ton of things you didn't know about candles. But as I will always say, do your own research and I'm sure you will find more fragrances that you can relate to. Drop some in the comments below. Tell me about your favorite fragrance and how it makes you feel. Or send me a quick email, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time, family!
Peace,
Kim
Rolls, E. T. (2005) Emotion Explained. Oxford: Oxford University Press
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