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..