How Does Aromatherapy Work
In ancient times, Cleopatra used aromatherapy to woo Antony, while the Aztecs created elaborate heated pools to release pure flower fragrance... this is aromatherapy. But how does aromatherapy work?
How Does Aromatherapy Work for Plants?
Pure essential oils, when they are extracted naturally (without the use of solvents, which can leave behind residues) are the heart and soul of the plant. Within the plant, the chemicals that create these scents have a job to do, such as attracting pollinators or repelling predators.
In their concentrated form, these oils retain their chemical signals. However, for humans these signals do not inspire us to pollinate a plant! Instead, these pure scents can gently inspire different feelings and moods. The chemical messengers contained within the scent of essential oils trigger this primitive brain function and work to influence our emotions.
How Does Aromatherapy Work for Us?
Aromatherapy works by using these pure scents to bypass the conscious mind. These scents then unconsciously energize, focus, and soothe our emotions on a deeper level.
Have you ever had the experience of a smell suddenly retrieving a long-forgotten memory? Perhaps you caught the faintest whiff of old leather and it reminded you of your grandfather’s favorite chair? That’s aromatherapy working! Our brain processes scent through the olfactory system to the limbic system, which controls our emotions and stores learned memories.
Imagine inhaling deeply from a rose, or smelling freshly crushed mint leaves...the power of scent can be transporting! By choosing different scents and their underlying chemical compounds, oil blends can be created with the desired aromatherapy effect in mind.
How Does Aromatherapy Work in Badger Products?
Let’s take our Stress Soother Aromatherapy Stick as an example. While formulating this product Badger Bill didn’t want to create something simply to relax you. He wanted a formula that helps you “rise to the occasion” because the way he sees it, sometimes the best way to handle stress is to stand tall and calmly face your stressor. So he chose very specific essential oils for this blend to achieve a nice balance between calm, cool, relaxed awareness.
- Rosemary instills clear thinking and confidence
- Tangerine is uplifting
- Spearmint is cheering
- Cedarwood helps to build inner strength
- Roman chamomile is soothing
- Lavender is relaxing
- Rose is all about love and forgiveness
So as you smell this balm, it is subconsciously invoking encouragement as well as calm. This is the Badger approach to aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is also about balance. Badger Bill likes to think of it like an orchestra:
"An aromatherapy blend can be thought of as a "symphony in scent". Essential oils like Lemon, Tangerine and Bergamot supply ephemeral "top notes" similar to the top notes created by flutes, violin, or silver bells. Cedarwood and Sandalwood essential oils are deep and resonant. They can supply the "base note" quality, similar to base notes supplied by the base, drum, tuba, or cello in an orchestra. Other essential oils, like Ginger and Rosemary, are considered to be "middle notes" and they help to form the body of the composition. Thoughtful and intuitive blending of essential oil fragrances, informed by aromatherapy science and tradition, can result in new, unique, and inspiring blends that soothe and satisfy mind and body on the deepest levels. That's what our mind balms are all about."
Click here to view our other aromatherapy products like Sleep Balm, Focus Balm, and Cheerful Mind Balm.
What do you think of aromatherapy? Let us know in the comments below!