It's not just evergreen trees that trigger relaxation, happy memories and joy during the holidays. The end-of-year celebrations have a multitude of triggering aromas, from hot chocolate and candies to cinnamon and peppermint. Whatever it may be, finding the correct aroma for yourself is key in knowing what helps bring you joy and relaxation during this festive time of the year.
With all of this in mind, it's important to know that just as an association of aroma with fond memories and events is positive, there may also be aromas that bring you sorrow, irritation, and pain. Knowing what these are is also important so you can arrange for positive outcomes throughout the holiday season. Just remember that it's different for everyone. The smell of a Yuletide evergreen tree is not the same for everyone and is not universally "pleasant". For one person it can have a positive association with opening presents and hearing favorite holiday music, and for another it can bring painful memories of negative events that perhaps happened in association to the tree during any given occasion in the past.
You most likely already know which holiday aromas are most pleasant to you and which ones you steer clear of. The reason is because they trigger memories and emotions right away. But there might be some physical and emotional reactions that take a little while to sink in and you may not fully realize that you've been affected by them until a gradual emotion or mood surfaces. Becoming gradually sad or finding yourself getting incrementally cheerful might mean that you were triggered by an aroma earlier than "now", such as passing through a store while shopping for holiday gifts but not realizing until an hour later that you might have been triggered by the aroma of candles or oils while in the store earlier. So try to notice if a memory or feeling has crept up on you from aroma triggers you might not have noticed at the time they occurred.
It might take a few holiday seasons for you to experiment with aroma therapy, but based on your present awareness of yourself, you can help to enhance your relaxation and stress reduction during the holidays by surrounding yourself with the aromas you already know well. Finding safe sources for these aromas is also important so be careful to check the products you purchase to make sure they are as safe as possible to your lungs and overall health.
Aroma therapy sources may include candles, scented sachets, potpourri, essential oils and oil diffusers, lotions, sprays, perfumes, soaps, bath beads, burning smokeless incense, balms, and herbs. Each is a personal preference and no one method is better than the other. Your choice is part of the process of finding the most enjoyable aromas for your mind and body.
Hellen Keller, who lost her eyesight and hearing before she was 2yrs old, was well known for her incredible writing and communication skills which frequently shone light on awareness of the power that our "other" senses have. She wrote that, "Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived."
Thanks to micadew for the great holiday photo.
