How to Use Scent As a Tool For Your Wellbeing: The Science Behind Scent
I recently attended two workshops focused on scent – one in incense formulation and the other in natural perfumery – and they deeply reinforced my own personal relationship with aromatics and how I work with them in daily life.
Scent and plant aromatics have been part of ancestral practices for centuries and continue to be used today as holistic and spiritual tools. Across cultures, aromatic plants have supported ritual, remembrance, prayer, healing and emotional regulations.
I have always been a fan of scent being as a form of aromatherapy and how it influences mood and our nervous system. For example, I place a lavender satchel under my daughter’s pillow to encourage calm and a restful sleep. Rosemary has been associated with memory and cognition - and is now being explored in Alzheimer’s research.
Scent functions as a “direct to brain” tool - connecting to our limbic system (the system that manages memory, stress response and emotions). Because of this neurological connection, our sense of smell is often considered one of our most powerful senses.
The smell of coffee (a personal favorite), your favorite childhood meal cooking in the kitchen or a perfume associated with a meaningful memory - scent and memory are intimately connected.
Working intentionally with scent can be simple:
Apply a calming botanical oil before meditation
Inhale rosemary before focused work
Diffuse citrus to uplift your mood
Light natural incense during evening wind-down rituals
At Casa + Jardin, scent is an intentional differentiator in formulations like Love Magic, Tranquilo and Balance. We apply the same intention to our clean fragrance candles. Each aromatic profile is crafted to create a sensory experience tied to relaxation, stillness and buena vibras.
Emotional. Memorable.
I invite you to pause today. Close your eyes. Inhale something that brings you beautiful memories.
Con amor,
Christina
References:
· Rosemary Has Been Linked to Better Memory, Lower Anxiety and Even Protection from Alzheimer’s
