| Fragrance perception is a subjective experience; we | | | | to the brain that controls heart rate, blood pressure, |
| have to experience the fragrance in order for us to | | | | breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone |
| perceive it and what smells pleasant to one person | | | | balance - that's why essential oils have both |
| may be offensive to another. Individual perception is | | | | physiological and psychological effects. The sense of |
| a subjective and unique experience; two people may | | | | touch, taste, hearing and sight are all linked to the |
| never describe a smell the same way. Aromatherapy | | | | thalamus, which is the brains switchboard, passing |
| applications affect mood, emotions and memory. | | | | stimuli onto the cerebral cortex. This is why a scent |
| Aromas have been found to be a very effective tool | | | | of a special fragrance can bring up memories, moods |
| used in relaxation work because it directly targets | | | | and emotions before we are even aware of it |
| the inner mind and bypasses the verbal, conscious | | | | We all have experienced aroma association, we smell |
| mind. Often the physiological effect of a certain | | | | a certain scent and right away it makes us think of |
| aroma is overridden by the individual's specific | | | | something. There is an enormous effect on a |
| emotional associations and psychological preferences. | | | | person's physiological and psychological response |
| The study of the psychological effects of aromas is | | | | because of the individual's perception of an aroma. |
| called aromachology. | | | | Emotions linked with aromas are subjective and |
| When making a therapeutic blend these things must | | | | lifestyle and culture have a large influence on this, for |
| be taken into account to be to certain that the client | | | | example many people who are accustomed to Asian |
| will have positive psychological responses; whether | | | | cuisine think of food when they smell ginger. |
| the person finds it stimulation or sedating, any | | | | While exposed to an aroma and experiencing an |
| universal associations the aroma has, for example | | | | emotion at the same time, the next time exposure |
| rose suggests femininity, love, divinity and sweetness | | | | occurs to the same aroma the emotions experienced |
| to most cultures, meaning of the aroma according to | | | | are related to the first emotions felt that first time. |
| the environment, society, and cultural factors, for | | | | Always allow the person to experience the aroma of |
| example frankincense is associated with incense | | | | the oils before a blend is finalized or an aromatherapy |
| burned in the Roman Catholic church and the first | | | | treatment is started to let them experience the |
| impression of the aroma the person has because of | | | | aroma. Duration is also critical; from time to time |
| personal associations and preferences whether | | | | changing the oils used is a good thing to do, that |
| positive or negative. | | | | way the person is not affected by conditioning which |
| There is such a thing as to much of a good thing and | | | | will slow the treatment down. |
| that's very important to remember with | | | | The power of positive suggestion goes a very long |
| aromatherapy. A subtle, pleasing aroma is more | | | | way; if you're told a scent is pleasant the reaction |
| beneficial for obtaining mood, emotion or | | | | should be positive and being told the scent is |
| psychological effects, but if our sense of smell is | | | | unpleasant the reaction most likely will be negative. |
| overwhelmed by overuse of aromatics, the body can | | | | Just thinking about an aroma changes the brain |
| react negatively. For example: erogenous scents | | | | waves. If a person needs to calm down after a long |
| should be very alluring and pleasurable in small | | | | day and are told that the blend will help them calm |
| amounts, but if the scent is to concentrated it will | | | | down, after using the blend they will be more likely |
| more than likely have a repulsive aroma then an | | | | to calm down because of the power of suggestion. |
| aphrodisiac aroma. | | | | The best way to look at this is that aromas effect |
| The sense of smell is the only sense that is directly | | | | us all differently and there are many factors that |
| linked to the limbic lobe of the brain, where the | | | | make the oils affect us the way they do, that's why |
| emotional control center is located. This is where | | | | an essential oil will have a different effect on |
| anxiety, depression, fear, anger, joy and other | | | | different people. |
| emotions come from. The limbic system is connected | | | | |