1) Scent as an attractor/repeller – Scents send signals to the body’s limbic system, which is the part of the brain that controls memory and emotion. A 2011 study found that certain fragrances can lower stress levels and elevate mood. It’s a reason that people who go out in the evening to meet other people for the first time shower carefully and then put on some type of scent on their body. People understand that certain body odours can attract or repel other people. At a subconscious level, people will determine that a person they’ve just met is trustworthy, decent, or is a suitable mate just from what their nose tells them. Believe it or not, how we smell provides others with cues about the quality of our health, reproductive abilities, and even our character even though it may not always be 100% accurate, as in some of the worst people may be the best-smelling ones which means that our noses are leading us astray. Although many of us think that other people are attracted to us because of our looks, it’s actually more subtle and deeper than that. How we smell can have a huge impact on how they feel or think about us. So you may want to consider this in case you’re tempted to skip that shower before you go out that door and meet someone for the first time, especially.
2) Incorporating smells as part of your wellness routine – Wondering how you can feel good about yourself each and every day? Thinking of ways to start your day with the right amount of energy and motivation? Consider using a citrus scent to put yourself in a positive frame of mind and prepare to take on the world. Should you use a candles or an essential oil diffuser? Candles are great if you like a stronger scent that only lasts for as long as the candle itself burns. Diffusers on the other hand, give off a more subtle smell and tend to last longer. So they actually end up being less expensive in the long run. Plus you can buy different essential oil flavours so that you can vary the scents in your home so that your nose doesn’t get used to just one scent. There are also old-school reed diffusers that you can use that don’t need to be plugged into the wall, which a lot of people like as they are all-natural and don’t consume any electricity. And they do last a long time compared to electronic diffusers. The problem with reed diffusers is that they diffuse scents even though no one is at home, unlike electronic diffusers which you can turn on or off whenever you like.
3) When over- or under- doing scents can work against you – Ever ride in a bus that has just picked up a heavily-scented passenger? Does it ever give you a headache because it’s an enclosed environment? That’s one possible side effect of having someone that has put too much fragrance on themselves can have on people who’ve become sensitive to strong smells, which is why many offices in the western world have banned perfumes in the office and enclosed spaces (including buses) and have gone totally scent-free. A lot of people from Europe, the Middle East or Southeast Asia discover to their dismay that their habit for generously pouring on the eau du toilette or aftershave in copious amounts (especially during working hours) is actually not welcome whenever they’re visiting North America. I used to be that person myself, and then after having moved to Vancouver from Manila, I slowly got used to the fact that wearing scents isn’t really a thing, whether during the day or evening. On the other hand, you can also underdo scents. One thing I’ve observed that people who come from warmer countries like to take daily showers (sometimes twice a day even as it gets too hot hot) whatever the season. A number of Europeans and North Americans will sometimes go for days without a shower during wintertime especially and that’s fine as people don’t sweat as much. Except they can carry this habit to extremes even during summertime when it gets hot and sticky. And when people don’t shower as often they can start to emit a a strong natural body odour that can feel (or smell) unpleasant to others.
4) People are moving to places that aren’t as warm or malodorous – I grew up in a big city that had a lot of smog due to gridlock traffic. And it was also hot and sticky most of the time. Not only did the monstrous traffic make me grumpier, I need to shower 1 or 2 times a day due to continuously sweating the entire day. Otherwise, I would start to emanate a smell that others would notice. The heat & pollution also made me take shelter in the Manila’s various air-conditioned shopping centres whenever I could. It also made me prone to coughing so much so that my doctor recommended that I “move to a city with cleaner & fresher air.” It was a lovely piece of advice, except it wasn’t that easy to follow as it involved starting from scratch, submitting a ton of paperwork, and adjusting to a new place and culture. Eventually, I did end up moving though. The interesting thing is that I’m not alone in this (in moving to someplace cooler). People everywhere are finding temperatures worldwide to be getting warmer, and finding themselves moving to places where they feel more comfortable year-round. I find Vancouver’s cool temperature to be just right. And it allows me to take brisk walks twice a day – once after lunch and another after dinner – which gives me an increased level of energy. There no stale odour hanging in the air unlike in places that have high humidity, and it makes me happy to take in the natural pine scent emanating from the city’s abundant parks and greenery and the fresh smell of the nearby ocean.
5) How keeping your house smelling fresh and clean can impact your well-being – Does the primary scent in your house remind you of your pets, wet raincoats, curry chicken or something more pleasant? The food we cook, the pets we keep at home, and the clothes that we keep lying around in the hallways all have smells. And they can linger long after they’re gone. Do you take steps to keep the air smelling nice and clean or are you one of those people that are insensitive to the smells in your house? Want to get rid of that fried cooking smell that you’ve just created as you cook dinner? Open a door and/or window while you’re preparing your meal. Need to get that smell of strong curry that is now stuck to your clothes from the exotic Sough Asian restaurant that didn’t have a good exhaust system? Put these on a hanger as soon as you take them off and then hang them in the bathroom while you have the bathroom exhaust switched on. The smell will disappear after a few hours. The biggest mistake is sticking your smelly clothes inside a closet right after they’ve picked up the strong smell of restaurant grease. That just seals the odour into your garments forever. Having completely closed windows will ensure that the smells have nowhere to go except stick to your curtains, area rug and sofa or anything made of fabric. And then remember to plug in the natural oil diffuser or light that scented candle during the day and evening to bring in a fresh smell throughout your house.
