As humans, we are endowed with five different yet unique senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and finally smell. We use all these senses constantly in our daily lives, but one of the most underrated and undervalued senses that humans have is the sense of smell.
Smell
The sense of smell, which is essential in our lives, allows us to smell food. We can smell different delicacies that have unique aromas that make us salivate just by smelling them. Our sense of smell can also recognize dangers. For example, we can always recognize the smell of a gas leak and protect ourselves from it. We can also tell if food is spoiled just by smelling it, often without having to taste it. Our sense of smell helps us protect ourselves from undesirable situations even when we are not aware of it.
In addition to this, our sense of smell also has the power to connect us to our past, to our memories, to events that we have locked away in the depths of our minds, and to moments that we have forgotten. For example, one day you smell a scent that you first witnessed many years ago, but you never remembered that moment or the people with whom you witnessed that particular scent, and you don’t even remember who they were. However, when you smell that scent again, it tends to bring back all the memories you had the first time you smelled it. It tends to remind you of the exact same moments, people, surroundings, and it tends to bring back all the memories you made when you were exposed to that scent for the first time. Thus, our sense of smell also has the power to bring back fond memories that you are nostalgic for and that you have forgotten.
What is Aromatherapy?
The sense of smell has many benefits, but did you know it can also have therapeutic effects? Have you ever considered that your sense of smell also has the power to calm, soothe and even provide therapeutic benefits during times of stress or panic?
This type of therapeutic scent is attributed to or is part of aromatherapy, which is the practice of using aromatic substances such as essential oils and other aromatic compounds for therapeutic benefits. It has been used for centuries with the claim that it improves psychological health. It is used as a form of complementary or alternative medicine and is usually administered by inhalation rather than oral ingestion. When inhaled, the scent molecules of the essential oils are transmitted via the olfactory nerves directly to the brain, specifically affecting the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain.
Even if we haven’t paid much attention to the therapeutic impact scents can have on our minds, we’ve all experienced the benefits of aromatherapy at some point in our lives.
Corroborating a similar view on this unique therapy, Dr. Neerja Agarwal, psychologist and co-founder of Emoneeds, says aromatherapy is a holistic treatment that promotes physical and emotional wellbeing, especially using natural plant extracts such as essential oils, to harness the therapeutic properties of aromatic oils to enhance health and improve mood.
Is aromatherapy proven?
Aromatherapy is a proven technique that can be used to ease mental distress. While talking about whether there is any research that proves aromatherapy’s benefits for the mind and body, Dr. Neerja asserted that there is a plethora of studies that acknowledge and support the benefits of aromatherapy. She said, “For example, a study in ‘Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine’ has shown that lavender oil reduces anxiety and improves sleep. Another study in the ‘Journal of Clinical Oncology’ found that aromatherapy reduces pain and distress in cancer patients, demonstrating its therapeutic benefits.”
There are several companies working on offering products that can help customers get aromatherapy and feel calm without going for prescribed treatment. Ridhima Kansal, Director, Rosemoor, said, “Our aim in working with air fresheners is to provide affordable and luxurious scents to our customers for their homes, offices, spaces, shopping malls, yoga meditation studios etc. Our goal is to create unique scent blends that evoke memories and evoke emotions that calm people’s nerves and boost their energy.” She suggested that by offering air fresheners that appeal to different seasons and moods, the main aim of these companies is to improve the health and mood of their customers.
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Aromatherapy is a simple technique, but the process of calming the mind is complex. When inhaled, the scent molecules of essential oils travel through the olfactory nerves directly to the brain, affecting the nervous system, especially the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. Dr. Neerja further explained, “Aromatherapy works through inhalation and dermal absorption. Inhaled essential oils stimulate the olfactory system, which sends signals to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and memory. When applied topically, these oils penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, resulting in physical benefits such as pain relief and improved circulation.” Thus, aromatherapy is not only transmitted through the sense of smell, but also through the skin, relieving any kind of physical or mental discomfort. She also stated that aromatherapy has the power to reduce anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic stress, headaches, pain, digestive problems, and respiratory problems. “While it may not cure these conditions, it complements conventional treatments by reducing symptoms and improving overall health.”
Aromatherapy: Tradition
Aromatherapy has been a part of our lifestyle for decades. It initially started in the form of herbs and plant extracts, but gradually evolved as people started using balm oils. Traditionally used in puja practices, its uses eventually expanded beyond religious beliefs. In aromatherapy, balm oils were used to harness their mood-enhancing and calming properties for meditation, relaxation and stress relief. This gradually transformed into perfumes and fragrances and over time, a demand for essential oils was created. Riddhima Kansal elaborated on how these different forms and types of scents became popular. She explained that the fragrance industry in India is growing rapidly and has become immensely popular across the world. “The industry is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2027, a growth of around 12% annually. This growth is due to the improving lifestyle of the middle-class group and their ability to spend more, hence they are buying luxury items to stay up to date. “Also, women have started to pay more attention to small things like body odour, and perfume has become an essential part of their lifestyle. Thanks to perfume, they can step out with confidence about how they look in front of their peers,” she added, saying that the influence of advertisements and celebrity endorsements plays a key role in manipulating the minds of consumers and creating enthusiasm to buy more. Moreover, the government has also supported by enacting rules to allow Indian perfumes to be sold abroad, which has helped the industry grow further, she asserted.
Is aromatherapy an alternative to therapy?
According to Dr. Neerja, convincing people to try aromatherapy is a very subjective technique. She suggested, “Those who are open to alternative therapies may be receptive, but skeptics need education and evidence. The benefits can be demonstrated by sharing research, personal anecdotes, and direct experiences.” Aromatherapy is primarily a form of therapy that can be performed individually or as part of an ongoing therapeutic process to bring about change, and can also be prescribed by mental health professionals. However, it can also be performed as an alternative to those who are skeptical of therapy sessions but urgently need help. She further cited one of her personal experiences with a patient where aromatherapy helped improve her illness. She stated that a patient with severe anxiety and insomnia saw significant improvement with a therapy of lavender and chamomile essential oils. “Over a period of months, these oils helped her improve her quality of sleep and reduce anxiety, complementing her existing treatment.”
Finally, the director of Rosemoor said that the brand focuses on creating refreshing scents that match different moods and environments and help soothe people’s minds. “Reflecting influences from around the world, our fragrances offer exotic scent blends that customers can choose based on their sensory properties. For example, if you want a calming experience, Lavender Blue will bring a sense of calm and healing. If you prefer a more invigorating scent, you can choose our Eucalyptus & Kaffir Lime fragrance. We have five main fragrance categories – floral, fruity, spicy, citrus and woody – with rich scents in each category. Rosemoor is dedicated to creating beautiful fragrances that evoke special memories and favorite occasions for our customers.” She added that they are working on a range of products based on the demands of their target customers and what suits people’s minds and emotions. These include scented candles, diffusers, scented potpourri, scented wooden balls, scented burner oils, and festival-themed aromatic decorations and accessories. These are all different types of products that make aromatherapy seem different to traditional therapy sessions, yet still provide similar therapeutic benefits.
Riddhima further explained that scented candles and diffusers double as home décor and are especially popular during festive seasons.
Thus, combining luxury and therapy, aromatherapy has become a big part of our lives in its various forms – diffusers, scented candles, potpourri, etc. – and has helped soothe us on many occasions.
