History and Science of Aroma

Aromatherapy (the use of essential oils and plant extracts) has been a subject of interest for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians used essential oils for rituals and religious practices, recognizing the oils’ ability to influence human feelings. Even with this rich history of aromatherapy, the term wasn’t officially coined until the 20th century, and it took many years for the scientific community to recognize the emotional benefits of aromatherapy. After substantial research in the 1990s, biologists began to more fully understand how chemical sensors in the body respond to the effects of scent. This research has opened many minds to a concept that ancient civilizations discovered long ago: aromatherapy can have a remarkable effect on human emotion and mood.

Because of the complexities of the human brain, certain aromas can elicit emotions by triggering memories and stimulating emotional responses. This concept, known as the “Proust Phenomenon”, suggests that although we all have different memories and experiences, everyone has the ability to experience a distinct response when inhaling aromas. This internal response acts as an “aromatic pathway” that connects the aroma to different areas of the brain, thus triggering an emotional response. When we inhale a distinct aroma, the scent is processed through the brain’s olfactory system, the sensory system responsible for controlling our sense of smell. The olfactory system is connected to the limbic system, an area of the brain where memories and emotions are stored. At this point, the limbic system produces a distinct response to the aroma based on memories that are associated with the particular smell—creating a rush of feelings that follow. Essential oils can produce responses that can be used to enhance well-being and manage emotions.