Scent is a powerful memory trigger. Like Proust, who bit into a madeleine only to be flooded with memories of his aunt Léonie, the smells that remind me of summer go far beyond a function of the nose. I forget exactly where I was the first time I smelled freshly cut grass, but the smell itself reminds me of the jubilance of childhood, of cartwheels, of picnics, of rolling down hills and catching lightening bugs. It’s these little things — the intoxicating aroma of the salt air carried on the breeze, a sun-warmed tomato plucked off the vine, the scent of the community pool, the smell of the lake in my hair — that form my favorite cranial keepsakes, pieces of a life tethered to the summer sun. We’ve all had the experience of being transported back in time from a simple whiff of something. We know instinctively that nothing will bring the same subtle (or strong) rush of emotion in memory. It’s a way to not be forgotten.
Researchers know that odors don’t trigger memories that are any more accurate than the memories triggered by other stimuli, but odors do trigger memories that are more emotional, according to psychologist Rachel Herz, a Brown University professor who studies the psychology of smell. “A person may have no emotional reaction to seeing a photo of a loved one who died,” says Herz, “but that person may unexpectedly encounter the same smell particular to the loved one’s study–a combination of cigarettes and books, for instance–and feel like weeping.” She notes that “those who lose their sense of smell because of accident or illness also report a loss of emotional richness and, over time, a loss of emotional intensity toward life. Experiences are flatter, they report.”
When we think about scent, there are two basic categories: Those which we use to enhance our bodies or our environment, and those that occur naturally. The intentional use of fragrance has been practiced since antiquity, and has evolved into a mind-bogglingly huge business. For ages fragrance was made from natural materials and was exclusively expensive. In the late 19th century when synthetic fragrance was created (from coal-tar) in a laboratory, the perfumer’s repertory of scents to work with was expanded–and made creating fragrance much cheaper. Now, as anyone with sensitivity to synthetic fragrance can attest, it’s everywhere–most cleaning products, air fresheners, candles, personal care products, perfume…you name it. The emotional connection to scent is so strong–no way manufacturers are going to pass up on that hook!
Although memory can be sparked by both synthetic and natural fragrance, the synthetic ones go beyond provoking memory–they provide an array of potential adverse health affects. They are, after all, made from petroleum by-products and are widely considered toxic. With the advance of technology and production, fragrance derived from natural ingredients is no longer out of reach to all but the aristocracy! If we want to scent our environment or ourselves, we can do so with essential oils–beyond making things smell nice, essential oils support wellness too.
In Blissful Bathtimes (Storey, 2000), Margo Valentine Lazzara describes the healing effect of scent like this: essential oils give herbs, spices, fruits, and flowers their specific scents, aromas, and flavors. Each oil has individual benefits to which the mind, body, and the spirit respond. Almost everybody can benefit form the use of essential oils. Pure plant oils can improve your state of mind and generally enhance the quality of your life. What makes them beneficial is that they work in harmony with your body. Each oil has the ability to evoke different memories that can affect a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological levels.
Lazzara writes that scents “trigger memories because of their quick access to the limbic system in the brain. It is here that scents will evoke an emotional response, such as hunger or sexual appetite. They can help you recall long- and short-term memories. If a particular scent stirs up past or painful emotions and memories and causes you suffering, then you might want to avoid this specific scent. But I believe that it is good to be able to release this kind of hurt and pain rather than avoid it. Think about the scents that can bring about recollection of your experiences.”
We can use natural fragrance therapeutically to deal with important memories–pleasant as well as painful–and we can use specific scents to work with our moods. But on a more practical level, we can make scent healthy by deciding not to use cleaning and personal care products that contain synthetic fragrance. We can make future memories that won’t make us sick!
Aromatherapy, the use of scents from the essential oils of plants to alter mood and promote healing, is an ancient art currently enjoying a resounding revival. While many common garden plants are used in essential oils—peppermint, basil, and lavender, to name just a few—the quantities of flowers or leaves needed to produce the oil are huge! For example, 1,000 pounds of jasmine flowers are needed for one pound of oil! Most commonly the oils are used in the bath (put in at the very end; the water should be no more than l00°F), or in a diffuser, or on or yoga mats, or placed on a handkerchief and inhaled when you need a lift.
At the yoga studio, we can all attest to the wonderful aroma that meets us as we walk in the door! Just a simple inhale seems to transport us to another, more sacred space. So how can we incorporate yoga with scents transporting us into our catalog of memories? Take your sweet time lingering in the smell, close your eyes to feel what it feels like to be in that memory's moment (good or bad) and notice the breath--Has it changed? Notice your physical response--Are your tightening or gripping or has your body suddenly released? Are you more relaxed? Notice the emotional response--How are you reacting? Is it positive or negative? Who or what is your memory of--the time and place?Yoga is about being in the moment and so what is your scent moment? Within your lifestyle, how do you use scent?
In case you are curious, here are some of the most common essential oils and their qualities. Put them on your yoga mat and see what happens!
Basil: Uplifting, clarifies thought processes.
Bergamot: Uplifting, yet calming.
Cedarwood: Relaxing; stress reducing.
Chamomile: Soothing and calming, excellent to use after an argument.
Fennel: Relaxing, warming, calming.
Fir needle: Refreshing, cleansing.
Frankincense: Calming, helps release fear.
Geranium: Balancing mood swings, harmonizing.
Juniper: Purifying, stimulating.
Lavender: Calming, soothing, relaxing
Lemon: Uplifting, refreshing, mental alertness.
Lemongrass: Stimulating, cleansing, tonifying.
Lime: Invigorating, refreshing.
Mandarin orange: Uplifting, refreshing.
Marjoram: Very relaxing, anxiety reducing.
Myrrh: Strengthening, inspiring.
Orange: Uplifting, refreshing.
Patchouli: Inspiring, sensuous.
Peppermint: Stimulating, cleansing, refreshing, invigorating.
Pine: Refreshing, cleansing, stimulating.
Rose: Emotionally soothing.
Rosemary: Stimulating, cleansing, good for studying, invigorating.
Sage: Cleansing, purifying.
Sandalwood: Stress reducing, sensuous, soothing, helps release fear.
Spearmint: Refreshing, stimulating.
Ylang-ylang: Uplifting, sensuous.
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