By Morgan Egan

Ever walked into a spa? Before you even check in, the refreshing, calming smells wash over you, transporting you to a place where stress is a thing of the past. Why is that? How can we replicate that same feeling in our own home? Coping with stress can be an overwhelming topic, but we’re here to break it down and help you manage stress all with just your nose! Curious? Keep reading to find out more.  

What is stress management? 

We've all felt stress. Our chest can feel tight, and we can feel lost, hypersensitive, or agitated. It can come from being overwhelmed at work, home, or any number of things. And while stress can help us overcome challenges, chronic, long-term stress can make life feel pretty much unbearable and lead to numerous negative consequences.  

So, how can we reduce the negative symptoms of stress? By using stress management! Stress management is defined as the tools and strategies that help reduce your overall stress as well as help lessen your symptoms.  

How to manage stress with your nose 

You may have heard the age-old stress management strategies like yoga, meditation, and going on long walks. But did you know smell can help as well? But how? 

Inside our brains is something called the olfactory bulb, which sits at the bottom of our frontal lobe, just above our sinuses. When we smell something, it’s processed by that olfactory bulb and then immediately moved to the limbic system, where emotions and memories are processed. 

This means your body has an immediate reaction to the scents that you smell. How many times have you smelled lavender or eucalyptus and before you even know it, you’re reminded of a blissful day at the spa? 

By using the right scents in your home, your brain can be transported to a place of calm and serenity with just one sniff.  

Scent is an amazing and powerful thing, so it makes sense that we add it to our stress management arsenal.  

Emotiwaves and stress management 

We went beyond just using essential oils to create fragrances that have the ability to activate areas of the brain connected to emotions such as calm and positivity.  

Working with master perfumers at Firmenich, we used EmotiWaves™ odor-emotion brain mapping technology. How does this work? 

Firmenich collaborated with the University of Geneva’s Brain and Behavior Laboratory, and measured brain activity using some pretty sophisticated technology called FMRI. 

After that, they designed Emotiwaves technology, which triggered activity in certain parts of the brain like joy or calm. 

These Emotiwaves were then used by master perfumes to create our Wellness fragrances, which not only smell amazing, but also help activate areas of the brain connected to calm and positivity. How cool is that?  

Some of these calming scents include lavender and sage, peppermint and rosemary, and sandalwood and vanilla, to create super relaxing smells that’ll help you get the stress-free boost you need! 

Want a deeper look at our Wellness Collection? Here they are in all their good smelling glory: 

Sun’s Out   

Sweet orange essential oil stimulates the area of the brain which promotes happiness and encourages an uplifting, motivating feeling. 

Lemon essential oil can help you boost your mood, find mental clarity, reduce stress, and more. 

Pillow Plans  

Lavender essential oil promotes relaxation and improves sleep, leading to feeling more refreshed in the morning. 

Clary Sage essential oil stimulates the brain and works to calm the mind and reduce the feeling of stress and anxiety. 

Vanilla essential oil has been proven to produce a calming effect, alleviating stress. Its soothing scent has sedative effects powerful enough to help lower blood pressure and make you sleepy fast. 

Soft Pants  

Sandalwood essential oil promotes calmness, lowers stress, and improves sleep quality, with its anxiety-reducing properties. 

Vanilla essential oil has been proven to produce a calming effect, alleviating stress. Its soothing scent has sedative effects. 

Eucalyptus essential oil stimulates the senses, helping to clear your mind with its calming and soothing effect. 

Spa La La  

Spearmint essential oil has been proven to be a key ingredient to improve mental clarity and enhance memory. Its refreshing scent is an energy boost for your body and your mind. 

Rosemary essential oil stimulates the senses, improving your memory and helping to relax your mind with its calming and soothing effect. 

Cedarwood essential oil is known to play a significant role in the relief of stress and its ability to prevent various symptoms of anxiety like uneasiness and restlessness. 

Morgan is a copywriter and content creator for Aera. When she’s not writing about all things fragrance, she can be found with her fluffy feline companion with a good book and hot cup of tea.