Stop and Smell the Aromatherapy: 5 Scents to Love

Research suggests that the most powerful of the five senses is smell.

It triggers unconscious memories – of childhood meals, of grandma baking cookies, of potpourri sachets quietly tucked into your clothes. It’s natural and easy to plow through the workday/week without pausing to, literally, stop and smell the roses, but after a few drops of lavender oil here and a citrusy midday hand scrub there, the world might smell like more than just unwashed laundry and public transit sweat.

Bite Size Wellness presents the top five aromatherapy scents, and the best related products, aimed to rejuvenate different aspects of your life.

1. For sleep, lavender:

This beautiful purple flower has more healing properties than the average herb. Lavender oil is used to treat acne, and alleviates anxiety and sleep disturbances. The Divine Calm Heavenly Shower Gel from The Body Shop ($18 for 6.8 fl. oz.) lets lavender essence seep into your skin to heal dryness and cracks; the scent is utterly relaxing and helps you fall asleep without counting sheep. Being on the run in the AM often means skipping your body lotion dose, but the Lavender Chamomile body cream at Bath and Body Works ($15 for 8 oz.) nourishes and protects skin for 24 hours – you’ll sleep better knowing your morning has a little more spare time.

2. For stress relief, eucalyptus:

You might only know this flowering tree as the go-to hang-out spot for koalas. Its bracing scent is often combined with citrus and junipers to create a heady mixture designed to boost decompression. Lighting a candle is always a nice way to segue into your post-work routine at home: try the Eucalyptus Spearmint candle from Bath and Body Works ($19.50 for 14.5 oz.). Purifying Eucalyptus shower tablets from Aura Cacia are also a good bet ($6.99 for a 3 oz. box) – just place the tablet on the shower floor and adjust water temperature, and let yourself relax. If koalas can do it all day, surely you can give yourself 15 minutes.

3. For on-the-go energy, citrus:

A spritz of orange or lemon into your car or cubicle will liven things up quickly. The Pep Talk Orange Mist from Aura Cacia (%7.99 for 2 oz.) adds cardamom and peppermint for a spicy addition to the traditional Floridian scent. The Natural Citrus Blend Aromatherapy Mist from UncleHarrys.com ($8.00 for 4 fl. oz.) drives away synthetic additives from propeller gases and chemical dilutants.

4. For a sensual splurge, jasmine:

Aromatherapy can do more than just heal. The cool, delicious smell of jasmine can transform can turn an ordinary afternoon into a spa getaway – or a romantic escape. The Sensual Jasmine Massage Oil from Aura Cacia ($8.99 for 4 oz.) contains only the flower’s essence and purified water but has more intensity and delicacy than most similar products. Scrub in some sexy self-confidence – and dirt and exhaustion away – with the Jasmine Vanilla Sugar Scrub from Bath and Body Works ($16 for 13 oz.). Smooth, soothed skin: a good start to the day and the evening.

5. For morning energy, ginger:

It’s possible to get the zing without the sting, and there’s nothing like ginger to jump-start your day. Avoid falling asleep in the shower with Orange Ginger Body Scrub from Bath and Body Works ($13 for 11 oz.) Use the Ginger Essence Rollerball from Origins ($18.50 for 0.3 fl. oz.) on your neck and the insides of your wrists for vitality that lasts till the cows come home.

Do you use aromatherapy? What scents enhance your day?