It all makes scents

Apart from smelling good, essential oils can help us to relax during these stressful times

- WENDY STELZMANN

THE comforting smell of warm bread just out of the oven, the stimulating scent when you squeeze a freshly cut piece of lemon rind, that distinctive smell that triggers a memory from childhood...

There’s no doubt about it – scents are powerful. They can evoke emotions and take us back in time in an instant. They can make us feel relaxed and happy. Smells impact our bodies through our nervous system, coming in via olfactory cells in the nose and mouth that connect directly to the brain.

Signals from the olfactory nerve go to parts of the brain in charge of emotions and mood. And research has also shown that scents can turn on the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes and soothes our bodies.

Essential oils – concentrated extracts of various plants – are a simple, effective way to get the stress-busting benefits of scents.

Here’s a guide to some that can help ease anxiety, boost your mood and help you sleep better.

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