Of the five senses, the sense of smell is believed to have the most transformative power to take us back into a moment in time. Grandma’s apple pie. A summertime bonfire. An ex’s cologne.
But the effects of scents don’t merely induce a nostalgic memory; they’re not just psychologically powerful. The scents we smell also have consequential physiological effects.
Fragrances have been used for thousands of years by many different cultures. For example, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), aromatic herbs such as Murraya and Elsholtzia have been used for millennia in treating various maladies.
And there are more than 200 references to perfumes and fragrances in the Bible; Jesus being gifted frankincense is perhaps the most familiar….