Aromas are often associated with emotional entanglements, sometimes mixed with forgotten memories.
Our sense of smell is unique compared to other senses, such as taste, sight, and hearing, because it bypasses certain parts of the brain, which other types of sensory information often cannot.
Because of this, smells often elicit immediate, intense emotional reactions based on memory.
Smells can take us back to past events in milliseconds, causing us to generate certain emotions based on past events, whether or not we realize why we suddenly feel that way.
This also explains from the side why sniffing aromatic essential oils produces different emotions, as it has an impact on the functioning and sensation of your limbic system.
When aromatic molecules are scattered in the air, the tiny olfactory hairs in the nasal mucosa of our olfactory organ "detect" their presence, and extend the aroma molecules from the nasal mucosa to the olfactory bulb, olfactory nerve and olfactory conduction pathway, and finally transmit the olfactory signal to the brain.
The aromatic molecules contained in the essential oil are thus transmitted to the brain through the olfactory nerve, triggering the limbic system, which is closely associated with emotional memory.
The smell is so magically connected to people's memories and emotions.
Historically, people have always known how to use aromatic plants to achieve the effect of soothing and improving mood, and modern research results also support this approach, and many studies have shown that plant essential oils can have a wide range of effects on people's spiritual level.
And the aroma of essential oils inhaled through breathing can also affect the function of the autonomic nervous system, such as: heartbeat, pulse, skin conductivity, skin temperature, respiratory speed, etc., which can be regulated by aroma.
Many new scientific studies also suggest that sniffing essential oils may be one of the fastest ways to create physical or psychological benefits.
One of the studies specifically aimed at aromatherapy massage with sweet orange essential oil found that the calming effect of the treatment came more from the effects of smell and cognition than directly through massage on the physiological system.
Essential oils to relieve anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most consuming negative emotions, it makes people sleep restlessly, and they are tormented by repeated mental moods every day, but they can't get rid of it.
bergamot
The fresh and elegant scent of bergamot essential oil resembles orange and lemon, with a slight floral scent that blends fruit and floral scents to lift the spirits and soothe the mood.
For people with emotional anxiety, bergamot essential oil can be added to daily bath water, or as an air freshener and personal perfume, which is very effective.
grapefruit
Sniffing grapefruit essential oil stimulates sympathetic activity and increases the amount of adrenaline in the blood plasma.
Grapefruit aroma can affect the activity of the autonomic nervous system, promote lipolysis and metabolism, and therefore reduce weight. Grapefruit also stimulates sympathetic activity in white adipose tissue through histamine receptors.
lemon
Lemon essential oil has an anti-melancholy effect. Lemon essential oil and its constituents limonene, citral, can maintain a low concentration of cortisols in the serum and monoamines in the brain, thereby reducing physical and psychological stress.
Lemon essential oil for patients with depression can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system while reducing the phenomenon of sympathetic activity.
Essential oils that bring joy
"Happy life" is a blessing that everyone wants, because the emotion of "happy" is so rare.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang motivation effect is particularly good, can alleviate negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, etc., make people relax physically and mentally, and produce a sense of pleasure. When used, 3 drops of ylang ylang ylang essential oil can be placed in warm water to soak in a fragrant bath, and its charming fragrance can soothe and relax, and more motivate cells and increase self-confidence.
Orange blossom
Orange blossom is a calming, balanced essential oil that can eliminate nervous tension, irritability, and release stress, and can make people feel relaxed after smelling, enough to provide emotional and physiological soothing effects, and can also bring about a sleep-relieving effect.
The smell of sweet orange blossom is sweet and strong, strong after staying power, and it will make people feel lighter and stress-free; the smell of bitter orange blossom is slow and deep, with a sweet taste, full of stamina, and will make people feel relaxed after smelling.
Happy sage
As the name happy sage goes, its essential oils do have the effect of making people feel relaxed, happy and happy emotionally.
Of course, in addition to this, the efficacy of other aspects is also very remarkable. Experiments have shown that 5% concentration of happy sage shows the strongest anti-stress effect, which may be related to its role in regulating dopamine.