Scent is closely tied to memory. In fact, scent molecules pass through the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, as it’s being processed as smell.
We all have associations with certain scents and memories. Perhaps baking cookies reminds you of your mom baking during the holidays or the smell of freshly cut grass reminds you of running through sprinklers in summer. These scents may bring back the emotional memory of those experiences.
Beyond the emotional recall, some scents may have a physical effect on our body chemistry. A 2007 study in the journal “Psychiatry Research” found lavender essential oil reduced cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can have an affect on water retention, immune system, change metabolism, and even bone formation.
We can capture these feelings when we need them most. Taking a relaxing bath with a lavender scent could be the best cure for a stressful day. Wearing a scent with a fresh grassy smell like tea tree might help you recapture a that feeling of summertime fun.
Try our scented soaps and essential oils to see what scent best suits your mood.