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| Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels |
Have you ever noticed that when most people smell flowers, they have a contented look on their face or smile? Or walked into a bakery, drink in the smell of fresh bread, and immediately felt better? Or smelled candle after candle? I confess, I could probably smell candles all day. It’s like ambrosia for my nose.
Smells have an effect on our mood, emotions, and sense of wellbeing. As well as alert us to danger like smoke, rotting food, or a skunk. They can also conjure up memories associated with certain smells. When I smell raspberries, I’m transported back to my grandparents’ home and the raspberry bushes in the backyard. I can see my tiny, little grandma (Whom I thought was tall when I was a tot.) standing on the back porch in her housedress and apron, telling us to get out of raspberries. We were just playing hide-n-seek. Honest.
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| Photo by Andrew Wilson from Pixabay |
Each of these smells is a type of aromatherapy. Good smells trigger positive emotions and actions, while negative ones trigger the opposite. This is why we like to have good smelling things around us like candles, flowers, and incense. A lot of household products have added scents in them from our cleaning products to our bathing products to our packaged foods to make them more appealing. If something doesn’t smell good, we don’t want it. The perfume industry has made a huge business out of favorable scents.
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Certain aromas can lift your mood and energize you. The connection between smell and emotion are extremely close. Breathing in pleasant smells triggers positive reactions in the brain, resulting in a sense of wellbeing.
Some benefits of aromatherapy are:
- Reduce stress by decreasing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, therefore making one more content
- Lavender has been shown to reduce crying in infants and promote sleep in infants and adults
- Beneficial effects on anxiety and depression
- Relief from mental fatigue
- Alter brainwaves and behavior
- Businesses use this last one to get you to buy more. Certain scents make one more likely to buy products. Realtors will have a pot of spices simmering on the stove or bake cookies when they have an open house. These aromas make people feel relaxed, safe, and at home, and therefore more open to purchasing the house.
The following aromas may help with the following moods.
CAUTION: Before using any aromatherapy, make sure you aren’t allergic to a scent, it won’t cause an asthma attack, or cause any other kind of health or medical issue for you.
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1. Relaxing and Calming: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Geranium, Rose, Jasmine, Frankincense, Grapefruit
2. Invigorating: Peppermint, Sandalwood, Lemon, Orange
3. Balancing: Cinnamon, Basil, Parsley
4. Uplifting, Inner security, & Self-acceptance: Rose, Bergamot, Geranium, Jasmine, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Cedarwood.
5. Focus, Alert, & Attentive: Cedarwood, Frankincense, Rosemary
6. Anxiety: Vanilla, Lavender
7. Control Cravings: Green Apples, Bananas , Vanilla
8. Reduce Pain: Lavender, Peppermint
9. Depression: May Chang, Frankincense, Lemon, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Orange, Neroli (orange blossom), and Helichrysum.
10. Confidence: Bay laurel, Bergamot, Cypress, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Rosemary, Orange.
Some aromas have multiple benefits. I have used lavender for relaxing, anxiety relief, and drifting off to sleep. Vanilla is also a very happy aroma for me, while my one son was repelled by it. Each person needs to find the ones that work for them.
Do you aromatherapy? What are your favorites?
THIMBLES AND THREADS: 4 Love Stories Are Quilted Into Broken Lives
Love Stitched into Four Women’s Lives
Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love? #thimblesandthreadscollection
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“Bygones” by Mary Davis
Texas, 1884
Drawn to the new orphan boy in town, Tilly Rockford soon became the unfortunate victim of a lot of Orion Dunbar’s mischievous deeds in school. Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? Now she doesn’t even know she holds his heart. Can this deviant orphan-train boy turned man make up for the misdeeds of his youth and win Tilly’s heart before another man steals her away?
Other stories in this collection:
“The Bridal Shop” by Grace Hitchcock, “Mending Sarah’s Heart” by Suzanne Norquist, and “Binding Up Wounds” by Liz Tolsma
THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series)
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Can a patient love win her heart?
As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.
A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer. Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?
HEARTBEATS IN TIME – 5 books of Old West Christian Romance (4 novels and
4 novellas) by 7 bestselling, award-winning authors, including my book, The Widow’s Plight. You'll love these 8 unique stories of love! Get it here: https://amzn.to/2VzRBoI
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The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough
The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough
#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance
MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, Courting Her Amish Heart, The Widow’s Plight, Courting Her Secret Heart , “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , and Courting Her Prodigal Heart . 2019 titles include The Daughter's Predicament and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.
Coming June 2020! The Damsel's Intent book 3 in the Quilting Circle series.
A hermit comes down from the mountains to snag a husband.
Coming June 2020! The Damsel's Intent book 3 in the Quilting Circle series.
A hermit comes down from the mountains to snag a husband.
Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:
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