I walked into a couple of smelly places today. The first one - a giant chain home decorating store - had a plethora of candles by the front doors. Just FYI I don’t have personal issues with candles. Certainly, one or two candle scents are fine. Even if the scents aren’t ones I go for, one or two in a large space would still be fine. HOWEVER hundreds of candles, of 25 varieties, well… can you say ”migraine-supreme?” I didn’t even look at what I wanted to find in the store. After 45 seconds, my prime objective was to GET OUT so that I could escape into fresh air and preform that breathing thing my body insists upon. I was grumpy when I left.
The second smelly place was one in which java was being brewed. Ah… the smell of good coffee beans being ground for my drinking pleasure. I happily stood in line, got my coffee, and even lingered a bit. Walked out smiling.
I also made it to a movie. (The new Disney one - “The Game Plan”.) And the smell of popcorn is always a grand & wonderful thing. I felt quite satisfied when I left (the smell of popcorn attached to my clothing - a bit of a smelly guilt trip though - nature’s way of reminding me that movie popcorn was NOT on my “to eat” list).
All of these smells our brains are hit with all day… what’s the deal? I did a bit of nosing around & here are some of the very cool aromatherapy hints I could find:
Chamomile - soothing - helps relieve tension build-up. (Chamomile tea is a nice smell in the evenings. Especially with a nice dose of cognac swishing around your lovely tea cup.)
Lavender - said to be great for everyone for calming, and balancing strong emotions. It’s sometimes used for symptoms of jetlag & general fatigue. (Maybe I don’t like to be calmed OR awoken. Lavender isn’t my fave.)
Peppermint - a great stimulator. It can stimulate the mind and calm nerves. (Haven’t I raved about my Bigelow peppermint cream & lipgloss?)
Grapefruit - fresh and clean - it can awaken clarity in thinking. (Can someone throw Britney some grapefruit oil? Or maybe just a wack on the head with a large grapefruit would cure her.)
Vanilla - warm, rich, and appeals to both males and females. It offers comfort and can soothe tension and frustration. (The cheap vanilla scented candles won’t do it here, people. Now… if you’re talking fabulous vanilla bean smell - like the REAL vanilla bean ice cream… mmm.)
Cinnamon - woody, warm & spicy and said to decrease stress and dispel negative energy. (Yah. Maybe you think depleting negative energy… I think of big fat juicy cinnamon buns with sticky cream-cheese icing and loads of raisins.)
Clove- spicy & sweet - can be used to stimulate and to overcome mental fatigue. (When I had my wisdom teeth removed, the dentist stuck gauze soaked in clove oil into the painful dry-sockets that developed. Cloves might be liked by some, but I will always recall the smell of it as I was begging for a stronger pharmaceutical intervention.)
Rose- The smell of roses is feminine. It can boost the spirit, calm the angry and help to calm. (Rose reminds me of my grandma!)
Rosemary - once had a reputation for strengthening the memory. (Maybe I can take it grocery shopping so I don’t forget my Vanity Fair & Starbucks budget?)
Ooooooh cool! I didn’t know all that…thanks for the tip! Oh, and I feel the same way about candle stores…I start to get sick from the sensory overload!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:24 amMaybe this helps explain the addiction I have to Cinnamon Dolce Latte’s. I spend the first 2 minutes just sniffing the aroma from that tiny little whole in the top of the to-go cup. (I always stop to purchase these after I have dropped off the kids at daycare, turned off the blaring kid’s tunes and before I hit the office). Stress relief at its finest and the buzz I get immediately after is pretty great too!
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:59 pm