I don’t know about you but I’m very affected by smells. I can smell something in passing and immediately be transported back to an event or experience years ago, which has a strong association with that particular scent.

Scents are another way of connecting to our memories and also the present moment, they can help us relax and even re-energise us, aromatherapy hasn’t been around for thousands of years for nothing!

My favourite smells.

Is there anything quite as mouthwatering as the smell of freshly baked (or baking) bread? I remember as a child one of the best treats was to have the crust of the bread, straight from the oven and lathered with farm butter, mmmm…

These days we have to worry about carbohydrate addiction and bad fats! But, I digress, back to scents..When I cannot sleep a few drops of lavender essential oil in a hot bath is wonderfully relaxing and when I need to clear my head putting some peppermint or lemon geranium oil in my oil burner is a great help.

Scents can help to create the space for meditation, burning incense or using essential oils in a burner are ways to fill your home with calming, cleansing smells, putting you in the right frame of mind to connect with your inner voice.

Some  essential oil scents and their attributes:

Basil – good for mental fatigue and insomnia.

Chamomile – calming and can make one sleepy so don’t use when you need to drive.

Eucalyptus – useful to inhale when your head and nose feel ’stuffy’ or when you need a clear head to study or work.

Frankincense – wonderful to use when meditating, helps to calm the mind and emotions, very grounding.

Jasmine – uplifting for when you feel ‘under the weather’ or have a case of the ‘blues’.

Lavender – relaxing, calming, good to help alleviate headaches and makes a lovely addition to baby’s bath water.

Lemongrass – uplifting scent and a great insect repellent, burn it in a vapourizer during Summer to keep the mosquitos at bay!

Neroli – also known as ‘orange blossom’ this scent is one of my favourites, it is sensual and calming and is great for when you want to feel extra feminine.

Peppermint – fresh and uplifting and great for clearing your sinuses and head!

Rose – the top of the charts when it comes to scents, rose oil is the way to go if you are in an ultra luxuriant mood and want to feel calm, feminine, loving and give yourself a confidence boost!

Tea-Tree – the scent of tea-tree oil can be slightly anti-septic but it is a wonder for clearing stuffy sinuses and the general uncomfortable symptoms associated with colds and flu. Use a few drops in a bowl of hot water and cover your head with a towel to inhale the scent.

Ylang-ylang – Right up there with Jasmine, Rose and Neroli, Ylang-ylang is a sensual, feminine scent and is a great one to use for calming nervous tension. Be careful to only use a very small amount as the smell is quite powerful!

Using scents in the bath:

If you are using essential oils in the bath, make sure to mix them with a carrier (or base) oil or some milk before adding them to the water. 2-3 drops to a tablespoon of carrier oil should be plenty.

Burning scented candles is another way of bringing the benefits of scent into your home and has the bonus of also incorporating colour!

So, however you choose to work with your sense of smell, be creative, explore with new scents and above all, enjoy!

Tomorrow we take a look at how to tickle our tastebuds..

Lavender..

Article written by Joy.

Well known and a herbal delight, lavender plants find a space in almost every garden. Lavender was used extensively by the Romans and others as a perfume for their baths, explaining the meaning of the latin, ‘lavare’ – to wash. During festivals lavender was strewn on floors, it was also an ingredient of ‘Four Thieves’ vinegar in the Middle Ages and country folk used the herb for dressing wounds, pains in the head as perfume for clothes and linen.
Cultivation of lavender in England is mentioned as far back as 1568 and the Pilgrim Fathers took lavender plants to America.
Popular uses of lavender today include Essential oil, fresh flowers, potpourri and a variety of uses in the perfume and beauty industry.

Kinds of Lavender:

Originally from the Mediterannean countries, lavender is cultivated worldwide today. The Lavendula species are evergreen perennials and shrubs which need dry and well-drained soil in full sun. It is easily propagated through cuttings and the modern gardner has a wide choice in foliage and flower colour. The following are a few of the more distinctive Lavendula species:

Lavendula angustifolia: Also called English Lavender and is the crop most predominantly grown for the production of Essential oil. Flowers appear on long spikes in the Summer season.

Lavendula dentata: Also called French Lavender, the plants have a distinctive toothed leaf and short thick flower heads, which flower continously. French Lavender makes excellent cut flowers and is used extensively in potpourris and various fragrant bath and beauty products. The plant lends itself to be pruned into sphere shapes.

Lavendula stoechas: Also called Spanish Lavender, its distinctive dark purple flower head is topped by ‘rabbits ears’. The shrub is bushy and can grow between 30 and 90 cms high. The stoechas also have varieties with yellow, brown or white flowers.

Lavendula allardi: Also called Dutch or Hedge Lavender, the plant hardly ever flowers and has large fragrant leaves which may be smooth or toothed, used as greenery. It can grow to 1,5 metres high and is easily clipped into a hedge or topiary.

Lavender Essential oil:

Lavender Essential oil is extracted from the flowertops and leaves of Lavendula augustifolia, Lavendula lactifolia and Lavendula hybrida through the process of steam distillation. Essential oils are highly concentrated, chemically very complex and should be used with care. Essential oils dissolve easily in plant oils and in alcohol. The therapeutic properties of Lavender Essential oil(the main chemical constituents being esters and alcohols) has been extensively researched, starting with Gattefosse’s observation of the dramatic healing effect of the essential oil on burns and Dr Valnet’s use of Lavender oil for serious war injuries.
Lavender Essential oil has properties ranging from analgesic, anti-depressant, anti-septic, bacteriacidal and hypotensive to a sedative for the heart. It is also a cell regenerator and good for help against fungal infections. Lavender Essential oil has a calming effect on the nervous system, thus relieving anxiety, insomnia and depression.
Lavender Essential oil is typically used in the proportion of 2 drops per 5ml(1tsp) base oil, water or alcohol. Used in proper dilution, the oil is safe for babies, children and pets.
This versatile Essential oil is available from most Health shops and pharmacies in 10ml or 22ml bottles and is a valuable addition to any home First Aid box.