The Power Of Smell : Its Importance In Aromatherapy

In order to experience the full power of aromatherapy, we need the ability to detect smell. The main organ used within aromatherapy is the nose. This article discusses how the sense of smell assists in the healing process of aromatherapy.

Essential oils are inhaled which can help stress an anxiety without the side effects of artificial drugs. It is not just based on smell. These essential oils maintain well-being in body, mind health and beauty. Essential oils are absorbed through the skin, which stimulates the brain and the pituitary gland from their scents - the effects of body and mind by scent and touch, working on physical, psychic and emotional disorders.

Seventy to seventy five percent of taste comes from our sense of smell. It comes from the odour molecules that enter the passage between the nose and the mouth that give taste sensation. Whether the smell is pleasant (flowers) or foul (rotting garbage) behaviour responses occur when an aroma is smelled. Essential oils are therapeutic, affecting the mood, alleviate fatigue, reducing anxiety and promote relaxation. People who have lost their sense of smell can experience anxiety and depression. Each oil has its own unique therapeutic, psychological and physiological property to prevent and ease illness. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system by stimulating the olfactory nerves.

HOW OUR SENSE OF SMELL WORKS

Our sense of smell is our most powerful sense and it is neglected in preference to using sight and hearing senses. We have the ability to recognize up to 1000 separate odours but each thing needs to be volatile (becoming gaseous) for our senses to detect and identify. An unexpected aroma can trigger any memories from childhood and key events. This can influence moods and emotions.

Essential oils have an immediate effect on our sense of smell, known as olfaction. When essential oils are inhaled, olfactory epithelium receptor cells or mucous membranes (located on the roof and the upper part of both walls of the nasal cavity and the part of the nose that detects odours) are stimulated and the impulse is transmitted to the emotional centre of the brain or limbic system via the epithelium containing 5 million olfactory neurons topped with at least 10 hair-like cilia to the olfactory bulb and to the limbic system which stimulates memory to recognise the odour. The limbic system is connected to areas of the brain, and is linked
to memory , breathing , blood circulation and endocrine glands, which regulate hormone levels. The limbic system is also involved with regulation or heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and digestion. Essential oil properties, fragrance and effects stimulate these systems.

The hypothalamus and limbic system play a key role in stress and depression. The hypothalamus forms part of the limbic system, which activates smell-related emotions and the ‘olfactory relationship’ with memory, eating, survival, sex and other emotional behaviour.

During normal breathing, the inhaled air slightly touches the cilia to detect odours in our environment. When sniffing. The air is pulled deeply into the cilia to increase the amount and strength of the odour by increasing the amount of gaseous chemicals that come into contact with the cilia. Olfaction is the most direct interface between the brain and the outside world.

Aromatherapy works by using various odours to achieve specific therapeutic results when utilizing sense of smell to manipulate the limbic system responses affecting emotions, mental and physical conditions, each oil has a variety of effects depending on the oil’s chemical components and memory association with the odour.

Smelling lavender increases alpha waves, which is relaxing. Jasmine increases beta waves, which promotes alertness. As well as relaxing and stimulating, some essential oils are adaptogenic, an essential oil that adapts to a need.

This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study. If you want to find out more about Aromatherapy or many other distance learning courses please browse their website: Start Learning

A good way to work towards a new career in Aromatherapy is to sign up for a distance learning course on the subject. By studying in your free time and pace, you can gain the necessary knowledge while tailoring it to suit your schedule.

Kerrana McAvoy
Academic Director – Start Learning
Start Learning

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