Aromatherapy is a great way to relax, relieve stress and recharge your batteries. Certain aromas have been shown to have strong effects on our state of mind. Inhaling particular fragrances can clear troubling thoughts from your mind, allowing you to take a micro-vacation from your worries, and to relax and return to work refreshed.
Most aromatherapy is practiced using essential oils—highly concentrated plant essences. These oils are very potent and can be irritating, so make sure they do not come into contact with your skin. Different oils are associated with different effects:
• Floral essences like rose, geranium, jasmine and gardenia are helpful for easing stress and depression.
• Lavender is excellent for relaxation and promotes healthful sleep.
• Peppermint and eucalyptus are invigorating; they can also help clear your sinuses.
• Warm, familiar scents like cinnamon and vanilla are comforting and soothing, perhaps because they evoke childhood memories of Mom or Grandma baking something delicious.
• Brisk citrus scents like lime, grapefruit and orange can help you feel more energized.
There are several ways to enjoy essential oils. One method is to sprinkle a few drops into a humidifier. You can also use an essential oil diffuser, a special tool that uses either heat or heat and water to disperse the fragrance throughout a room. Aromatherapy oils and diffusers are available online at stores like Puritan’s Pride, Aura Cacia and House of Nutrition* (helpful Google search terms: “essential oils,” “aromatherapy oils,” “essential oil diffuser”), and can also be found in your local Sephora, Bath & Body Works or Bed Bath & Beyond.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy aromatherapy is to create a sachet—a small, soft, fragrant packet:
1. Take some mesh or gauzy fabric (I often use a chiffon scarf or shawl from a discount store like Marshall’s, but you can also purchase mesh at a craft store) and cut it into 4-inch squares.
2. Take two cotton balls. Put a few drops of essential oil on one, and press them together.
3. Put the cotton in the center of the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the cotton balls.
4. Twist the ends of the fabric and tie with a ribbon or string.
5. Voilà! Take a whiff and relax for an instant aromatherapy break. You can also place sachets in your closet or drawers to scent your clothing.
* Beth Israel Medical Center is not responsible for, does not endorse, and cannot assure the accuracy of information on these outside web sites.