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Everyone has their own ways to unwind after a stressful day. Some people listen to music or take a walk around the block. But no matter what you do, adding some calming scents into the mix could help you quiet-down and relax, suggested mindbodygreen.
That’s because smell is an important primal sense and has served as a survival mechanism. For example, when you smell smoke it kicks in adrenalin so that you flee. But when you smell cookies baking, it triggers a feeling of comfort.
“The connection between scent and emotion is lightning-fast, which is why aromatherapy [a holistic practice] can be such a powerful tool,” natural skin care expert Sarah Villafranco, MD told mindbodygreen.
Aromatherapy can be used to elicit many body responses from making you more alert to relaxing and de-stressing you. Check out these five calming scents that will help you unwind.
Lavender
The scent of lavender will calm and relax you and might even improve your mood, according to Verywell Mind. That’s why it is used in baby bath products. Lavender contains linalool, a compound that could help to lower your blood pressure and reduce anxiety, according to a study in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. You can light lavender scented candles or use it in your bath as a way to relax before bed.
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Rosemary
This flavorful herb with a woody scent is also good for your mood. That’s because it can reduce your cortisol – the stress hormone – levels and that could help reduce anxiety. The natural compounds such as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid that are contained in rosemary also have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Diffuse rosemary essential oil or use sprigs of fresh rosemary in potpourri to add this stress reducing scent to your home.
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Chamomile
Many people drink chamomile tea at bedtime to calm them and help them sleep. But this pleasant-smelling yellow flower can do much more, according to Healthline. Chamomile essential oil may also be used to help with digestive upset as well as to ease pain and inflammation. You can massage diluted chamomile oil into your skin or use it in a warm bath. But just use a little at a time.
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Jasmine
Jasmine oil has a beautiful floral scent and that’s why it is often found in perfumes but it also can promote a sense of wellbeing. Unlike lavender and chamomile, jasmine oil calms without making you feel sleepy. You can inhale jasmine oil from the bottle or place a few drops on your skin or you can use a diffuser to add the scent to rooms.
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Bergamot
This essential oil comes from bergamot oranges, a hybrid mix of lemon and bitter orange. The oil is derived from the peel of the fruit and is found in perfume and in Earl Grey tea. Bergamot oil has a calming effect, may also reduce anxiety, and help improve mood, according to a 2015 study. You can put a few drops of the essential oil on a cotton ball and inhale the aroma two to three times to help relieve anxiety but do not put it directly on your skin if you are going outside because it could increase sun sensitivity.
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