If you’re not a scent person, this post won’t be your cup o’ tea. I am a scent person. I like soy pumpkin spice candles, apple body wash and tons of essential oils – not all at once!
Beyond making your world smell better, many scents actually offer some amazing benefits for your health and mental status too – and who among us couldn’t use better health and mental capabilities? Below are some great perk-you-up natural scents you’ll adore – just be sure to stay clear of fake perfume scents which are not only less helpful, but are also full of icky chemicals.
Flowers
Fresh floral scents have been shown to stimulate your frontal cortex – the part of your brain that helps you solve problems and plan ahead. Some research shows that people who are exposed to flower scents finish tasks 17% faster than others. Personally I’ve never found a fake floral, or even organic floral essential oil I like, so my recommendation is to fill your home (or office) with fresh organic flowers or putter around the garden more often.
Peppermint
Peppermint trigger the part of your brain that makes you more alert and allows you to concentrate better. Also, peppermint has been shown to sooth headaches and sore tummies. For headache relief, I mix 3 drops of organic peppermint essential oil
- NOTE: Before you use essential oils read my essential oil guide.
Green Apple
Apple pie may be a little calorie heavy, but the scent of baking pie may make you feel better. Green apple scent has been shown to help sooth migraines and ease head and neck muscle spasms. Try Desert Essence – Green Apple & Ginger Bodywash, which smells great and is certified to NSF Organic Standard. Better yet, eat some green apples. Just make sure they’re organic – apples have HUGE pesticide loads.
Banana
I’m not a huge banana scent fan, but this scent can stimulate the part of your brain that makes you feel full – thus allowing you to eat less and lose weight. In fact a huge past study showed that just a whiff of banana helped folks shed about 5 pounds a month, even when the people made no distinctive changes to their diet or exercise routine. If you love the smell of bananas, aim for eating a real banana or try some organic banana lip balm.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a GREAT scent – one of my favorites and it’s been shown to help relieve stress too. You’ve got tons and tons of vanilla choices, but my favorite vanilla scents are homemade vanilla lavender sugar scrub or the amazing Vanilla Pear Silky Soy Moisture Bar from Evergreen Candleworks. I also love vanilla soy candles. Of course, if you like to bake you can whip up a delicious organic vanilla cake or batch of cookies.
Other useful scents
Use organic essential oils or other natural or whole food minded products to reap even more scent benefits…
- Sail through exams and job interviews: Grapefruit or basil.
- Fight insomnia: Lemon.
- Feel happier: Tangerine.
- Fight physical body stress: Lavender or rosemary.
- Limit mental stress: Basil, orange or cardamom.
- Improve memory: Rosemary or ginger.
For more tips about how essential oil scents can improve your world, pick up a copy of The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
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