Some specific aromas have been found to be very helpful for stress, including lavender, cedar, frankincense, and jasmine. It's also known that certain smells will activate memory, such as thinking of the holiday season when smelling evergreen, or being reminded of Thanksgiving or Halloween when smelling pumpkin. But not all aromas are interpreted the same by everyone, so developing your own preference is important and will take time, as well as trial and error.
When it comes to using Aroma Therapy to facilitate relaxation, there are also many safety factors to take into account, such as the method used to disperse the aroma into one's environment, as some methods are safer than others. For instance, burning incense is a great way to deliver aroma into any given environment, both indoors and outdoors, but it's wisest to use plant-based incense and even better if you burn them outdoors to prevent poor ventilation and to reduce inhalation of any unhealthy particles. In addition, stay alert when burning oils, incense, or potpourri, especially if you have any risk of falling asleep while relaxing to the enjoyment of these types of aromas.
The methods for Aroma Therapy are many, and include diffusers, incense, perfumes, bath oils, essential oils, and body lotions to name a few. For some the simple smell of an open fire is relaxing, and for others it's the natural smells of things like the ocean, mountain pine trees, or the smell of rain.
You can find additional information about Aroma Therapy on my earlier blog entry from 2015 here
"Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived" ~Helen Keller
Thanks to jessicahtam for the great photo, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
