March 21st is National Fragrance Day, a time to celebrate your favourite fragrances, from the warm and woody to the fresh and floral.
Think about your favourite fragrance. Why do you love it so much? Was it worn by a loved one? Does it remind you of your favourite season? Or maybe it smells like that delicious treat you always grab at the coffee shop!
Whatever the reason, it's probably connected to a pleasant experience and so
smelling it makes you feel happy and content.
It may come as no surprise that fragrances can affect our moods and intertwine with our memories. But how, might you ask? It all comes down to science.
According to a Discovery.com article by Ashley Hamer, your brain’s olfactory bulb controls your sense of smell. This bulb connects to the amygdala, which processes emotions, and the hippocampus, which processes memories.
“[This connection] might explain why the smell of something can so immediately
trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion,” says Hamer.
So, what can we do with this knowledge? We can use scent for therapeutic
purposes, as is often done in aromatherapy! Invest in a scent that makes you feel good, whether in the form of a soy candle, reed diffuser, room spray, wax melt or bottle of perfume.
Before you buy any scented product, be mindful of the scents that you want to
surround yourself with. Take a moment to think about your favourite people, places, and seasons and the scents that you associate them with. You can even jot this down in a journal. If you are having a bit of difficulty, here are some suggestions:
Favourite person - Mom - The smell of lilacs.
Favourite person - Grandma - The smell of banana bread.
Favourite place - Bakery - The smell of warm, sweet cinnamon.
Favourite place - Cottage by the lake - The smell of fresh water.
Favourite season - Fall - The smell of a hot cup of apple cider.
If you can relate to these examples, check out our Lilac Breeze, Nana’s Bread,
Cinnamon Buns, Lake Huron Sunset, and It’s Fall Y’all scented soy candles.
This National Fragrance Day, treat yourself to your favourite feel-good fragrance, but also, don’t be afraid to mix things up and try out scents you are unfamiliar with. Some might spark memories you’ve forgotten or can be enjoyed while you create new memories!
