I came across this blog post the other day from Life Hacker that I wanted to share. It is about how scents can increase brain power. I am not sure if you have ever experienced a different mood or feeling or a connection to a memory from a scent – but I have.
I know that I experience a different feeling depending on if a use an energizing lemon lotion in the morning and a lavender or Chamomile one in the evening.
Here is a section from the blog posts that lists some scents that are good for creating certain benefits:
Energizing/Invigorating: Orange, Rosemary, Lemon.
Stress Relief: Jasmine, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage.
Sleep Aids: Lavender, Chamomile, Sandalwood, Vetiver.
Mood Elevators: Mint, Basil Oil, Bergamot.
So on a day when you need to improve your mental focus, you might want to eat an orange at your desk, and leave the rind nearby where you can smell it. Conversely, if you need to ensure a good night’s sleep before a big presentation that’s got you stressed out, consider sleeping with a lavender sachet under your pillow, or setting up a lavender essential oil diffuser in your bedroom about half an hour before you plan to hit the hay.
You can use diffusers or nebulizers to aerate the oil. Alternatively, you can apply some essential oils directly to the skin to reap their benefits. Make sure to read the directions carefully before using any essential oils to make sure you are going to use it in a way that will give you maximum benefits.
Here is the link to the full article if you wish to read it: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/olfactory-life-hacks-scents-that-increase-brain-power.html