“...and anyway, what would I want to live for if I couldn't smell and eagerly breathe in all the scents of the world?”

Patrick Süskind El Perfume

It is likely that the most authentic relationship with our surroundings occurs through what we smell; scent is the sense that makes us think and feel immediately due to its privileged connection, compared to the other senses, with the areas of the brain where memories and emotions are located: the hippocampus and the amygdala. Precisely the impact that aromas have on the brain is the subject of a new science born in the 80s called aromachology, a science of particular interest to neurologists because of the close relationship between smell and brain plasticity.

After perceiving a scent, our nervous system sets itself in motion; the brain first processes the affective relationship and the mood that the scent evokes, and then identifies the smell and associates it with a memory or a preceding experience. That is to say, emotion precedes identification, hence the importance of keeping the olfactory system in perfect working order as an emotional regulator and stimulator of the entire parasympathetic system. Beyond the glamour of perfumes, the world of aromas is fully linked to physical and emotional health. How can we train our sense of smell to help us feel better?

The ritual we propose with the THE GARDEN OF EMOTIONS line is very simple; let's say it is the equivalent of a basic routine of stretching and strength exercises if the sense of smell were a muscle. This “olfactory gymnastics” begins with a massage on the sides of the nose and a pressure of several seconds on the points of the face connected to the respiratory tract; the pressure is applied with the fingertips and can be repeated two or three times. This exercise, which is also practiced in facial yoga, contributes to decongesting the entire peri-nasal area and preparing the nose to receive the stimulus of the aromas..

The next step of the ritual is to apply the Scented Toning Mist over the face, with eyes closed and breathing in deeply. It is advisable to choose a scent based on the mood, energy, or time of day—after the morning shower or before going to bed. In the first case, the Orange Blossom Passion will provide energy; in the second case, a scent like Lavender Harmony will induce rest.

The ritual can be completed with a massage on the upper area of the body—shoulders, neck, and nape—using a Scented Hydro Nutritive oil simply by applying a dose of oil to the palms of the hands and gently massaging those areas, occasionally bringing the hands to the nose area and breathing in the scent deeply, with full awareness. 

Aromachology has shown, for example, that the scent of jasmine increases the brain's beta waves, present in states of high emotionality, or that the citrus scent of neroli contributes to lowering blood pressure; similarly, the scent of orange or lavender reduces muscle tension, and the scent of roses favors the reduction of the heart rate. Other brain activities such as memory or creativity can be stimulated thanks to certain aromas like lemon or eucalyptus.

By activating the area of memories and experience, the scents we like most increase creativity and the ability to learn and assimilate, but they also emotionally predispose us toward more positive and proactive states. We should activate our sense of smell every day as a form of well-being, paying attention to the perfumes that move or surprise us, reveling in the scents that inspire us, immersing ourselves in gardens, and giving ourselves an olfactory bath of energy, inspiration, and delight.