Have you ever walked into a spa and instantly relaxed from the scent of their carefully chosen candle flickering in the corner?

This is because the sense of smell is the only sense that has a direct link to the brain, it does not run through any other pathways, therefore, the effect of your sense of smell is instant. And because our memories & emotions are stored in this same part of the brain, the limbic system, you are likely to always attach a memory or emotion to what you smell, which ultimately has the ability to alter your mood.

How Does Fragrance Affect Mood?

 You might be familiar with the term and concept of aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.

The term “aromatherapy” refers to the therapeutic application of plant essential oils (usually diluted in a carrier) by qualified professionals. There is a growing body of research from laboratory and clinical studies that points to the remarkable healing properties of essential oils.

Choosing the right perfume at the right time can help you:

• Increase alertness and focus
• Feel more energetic and invigorated
• Uplift your mood and feel happy or content
• Relax and soothe you
• Feel motivated and enthusiastic

How can you choose a perfume that has a positive impact on your mood?

My #1 tip when looking at purchasing a perfume for mood alteration is this –

Don’t focus on the fragrance itself, but the feelings you feel when you smell it.

As far as what ingredients to look for, it depends on what you’d like to feel –

Do you want to feel calm and relaxed?

Try chamomile, lavender, sandalwood, jasmine, and geranium if you want to be calm and relaxed. A selection of these oils can be found in erato [naughty] or terpsichore [expressive], kleio [elegant].

Do you want to feel energetic and happy?

Try orange, lemon, ginger, pine, spearmint, geranium, or anise scents if you want to feel energetic. Euterpe [cool], thaleia [flirty], ourania [intuitive].

If you’re not sure what scent you’d like to try, I’ve created a quiz that helps you to choose the perfume that best matches your personality. It’s called the Choose Your Muse quiz and it only takes a couple of minutes to complete.

Of course, there’s also The Collections Pack which has a sample sized bottle of each perfume inside, so you can explore each scent before deciding what’s your favourite. It’s our best-seller and is the best place to start if you’re not sure.