Harnessing “The Power of Smell”: The Key to Well-Being with Natural Fragrances

We surely don’t have a user manual to understand how to use our bodies in the best possible way. We can refer to ancient wisdom or scientific research work or care and nourish ourselves in the best way with immense love for life. Olfaction is a sense not strongly associated with the idea of well-being in today’s world sadly. We are unaware to what extent our actions and decisions may be driven by smells.

Olfaction historical references-“The written sources demonstrate that ancient Egyptians lived in a rich olfactory world,” says Egyptologist Dora Goldsmith of Freie Universität Berlin. The value of olfaction was deeply embedded in ancient Egyptians; they understood their world through their noses and lived for scents. They understood well that life exists from breathing, and the breath of life and the act of olfaction are intertwined.

How does each breathe count

We breathe countless times in a day and every breath is associated with the smell/fragrance so imagine how you are triggering a sensation with odour molecules in your limbic system a zillion times and how every breath activates these limbic areas associated with emotional experience and memory retrieval. The limbic system that houses Amygdala and Hippocampus is the centre for the expression of respiration, olfaction, emotions, and memories. Just imagine how you feed your mind countless times with chemicals in synthetic fragrances that stay with you the entire day after wearing them. We need to learn to harness the power of smell to support our well-being consciously.

In this blog, we’ll help you understand the power of smell and how you can enhance your well-being with just the simple act of smelling.

Do you know olfaction is an involuntary action in the body?

Do you know how important respiration is in olfactory perception and emotions? Are you aware that you feed your mind every second of your life through your senses? We can control what we see, listen to, taste, and touch but can’t control our breath, and with each breath the inhalation of odour. It’s an involuntary action and only ceases to happen when we die. How our body and mind consume the oxygen we inhale for survival is a complex mechanism. Breathe; the life force enhances our two senses smell and taste naturally.

The sense of sight and hearing gets relayed to the central part (information processing centre) of the brain; the sense of smell is directly connected to the emotional part of the brain and is instantly processed and stored. This makes it a powerful tool for enhancing our mental and emotional health.

We must know how our respiratory patterns change with stimulation by odour? Various scientific research works have shown that pleasant odours result in a deep and slow breathing pattern. On the other hand, unpleasant odours result in a rapid and shallow breathing pattern. These pattern changes are related to the activation of the limbic areas, which are associated with “emotional breathing.” Shouldn’t we be more mindful of what we inhale #detoxifyyourmind.

But before we dive into how you can enhance your well-being through the power of smell, let’s understand how it works.

Olfaction is the oldest sensory mode known in the evolution of living organisms. Humans can detect millions of odour in quite small concentrations. We have tremendous variation in our genes that control the receptors in our olfactory epithelium. When we inhale, tiny scent molecules travel up our nose, beyond the nose hairs to a special area in the nasal cavity.

This area has a thick mucus lining with special sensors called the olfactory neurons. This set of sensors detects these scent molecules and sends signals directly to the brain. This direct path of scents can quickly trigger strong emotions that your brain remembers and recalls instantly. For example, the smell of freshly baked cookies might instantly remind you of your grandmother’s kitchen, or the smell of the wet soil reminds you of the first rain at the end of summer.

The system that is connected to the part of the brain that deals with emotions and memories known as the limbic system. It not only triggers memories and emotions but also is responsible for triggering an involuntary response through your whole body. Some smells relax you and put you in a good mood, but some would give you an ick or make you feel nauseous, based on the memory it holds.

The power of smell

Olfaction faculty has been developed in all living beings for millions of years. It’s the key reason for the survival and sustenance of life on Earth. We all are aware of the role of odour in attraction and mate choice. Our olfaction journey starts as early as in the womb, and it further strengthens when the odorous secretions of the areola attract the new born and facilitate breastfeeding. The sense of smell plays a crucial role in our lives. It connects us to memories, influences our emotions, and impacts our well-being.

Sense of smell is deeply embedded in our multiple activities; odours can alert us to food in our environment and orient our appetite even before we ingest it. Odour shares the flavour of the food even before we taste it. Several studies now have shared that odours trigger appetite sensory-specific appetite. On the other hand when you have a cold and the olfaction component is missing then you are just feeding your body without enjoying food.

Reasons for Olfactory Dysfunction

Olfactory dysfunction is directly linked to depression and quality of life issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc., adult and childhood obesity, and decreased nutrition.

#Bonus Fact: The olfactory system in our nose can discriminate several distinct odours that are estimated to be about 1 trillion (as per 2014 scientific data)

Now imagine that all these sensors create a catalogue of smells that your mind remembers and recreates its environment every time you take a whiff of something around you. From your mother’s home-cooked meals, the garbage bin in your house, to the salty smell of seas and the fresh garden flowers, your mind remembers it and signals your body to react to these smells. Isn’t it a mind-blowing fact?

Considering we understand how our sense of smell works, it is also important to know how to make the most of it.

We usually miss out on memory and the benefits of smell while smelling things, because we are not mindful. We can improve our mental and physical well-being through many mindful practices. Mindfully breathing is at the top, our ability to mindfully smell improves our surroundings and we can create memories of what we smell.

There are different breathing techniques for various needs in our body. To improve focus we need to have deep and regulated breathing. One such technique is the box-breathing method. Here, you inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold again for 4 seconds. You can gradually increase the time and create deep regulated breaths that help clear your mind. Similarly, there are other yoga techniques like pranayama, yogic breathing, etc.

Benefits of Aromatherapy with natural fragrances

Therapy from aroma molecules of volatile essential oils happens when we are mindful while inhaling aromas (smells). Essential oils are aromatic substances present in the specialized cells or glands of certain plants used by them to protect themselves from predators and pests, but also to attract pollinators. In other words, essential oils are part of the immune system of the plant.

Aromatherapy can be done by direct inhalation from the essential oil bottle, by sniffing or by putting a few drops on hands, rubbing, cupping, and inhaling, or by using an oil diffusor or through aromatherapy bath or massage for the stipulated period. Aromatherapy is an effective way to overcome anxiety and depression.

Various scientific research works have proved that using essential oil fragrances is one of the fastest ways to achieve psychological results. Smells are carried through the olfactory system directly to the brain, and they serve as an emotional trigger. The limbic system evaluates the sensory stimuli, registering pleasure, pain, danger, or safety; then directs our emotional response, such as feelings of fear, anger, and attraction. Our basic emotions and hormonal balance get triggered by the most basic smell. Scents are a direct pathway to memory and emotion. The limbic system influences both the peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system. The reduction of stress typically translates to reduced blood pressure.

Mind First Natural Fragrances

People usually use essential oil diffusers to create calming environments in enclosed spaces. We have launched essential oil-based natural perfumes and deodorants so that you get aromatherapy wherever you are. You can use them on your pulse points and clothes to experience fragrance completely. Mind First offers single-note perfumes and deodorants for you to experience say lavender in all (top, middle, and base) notes to have relaxing, calming blissful effects the entire day.

# An important fact for you: Only completely natural fragrances that have quintessence of the plant material can change your mood and motivation; synthetic fragrances can’t.

If you want to feel fresh, vibrant, and good to go in the morning, then you can wear our Lemongrass oil-based perfume but remember to inhale mindfully for a few seconds after wearing it. We have packed nature in a bottle for you. It may feel like having a relaxed walk on an early spring morning and can give you a sense of alertness just like your morning tea. You can check our entire range of perfumes and deodorant in our website: www.mindfirst.co.in

Our natural perfumes and deodorants are made with essential oils, natural isolates, and natural antioxidants, unlike lab-made synthetic perfumes; they are filled with lab-made aroma chemicals, natural-identical aroma chemicals with a lot more harmful chemicals like phthalates, etc.

The power of smell is a profound and influential force in our lives. No matter how you feel, nature through natural fragrances will always help you to find a balance. All you need to do is take a whiff, deep in and exhale.