Aromatherapy Oils and Emotions - What's the Connection?

How Do Aromatherapy Oils Affect Your Mood? You don't see with your eyes, hear with your ears, or smell with your nose. All that gets sorted out in your brain, from the signals sent by the eyes, ears, and nose. Different areas of the brain handle different senses.

Fragrances are sorted out in the limbic part of the brain, the part that's in charge of emotions, feelings, and moods. One of the main parts of the limbic system is the hippocampus, which is associated with storing memories.

So, emotions, feelings, moods, and memory all play a part in how aromatherapy oils affect you. If your favorite great-aunt Matilda had lavender plants all over her house, whenever you smell lavender you'll probably think of her. And since she was your favorite, you might even smile at the memory.

Aromatherapy or Scented Oils?

Scented oils aren't the same as those used for aromatherapy. Scented oils are manufactured in a lab. They're artificial.

With pure aromatherapy essential oils, you're not just inhaling a wonderfully soothing scent, you're inhaling molecules of the plant itself - in the form of the oil. That way you get the full benefit of the plant properties.

Here are some of my favorite oils for evoking a tranquil moment: lavender, geranium, rose, sandlewood and ylang ylang

Return from the Aromatherapy Oils page to the Home page.