Mood boost: Smell yourself happy

Ever stopped to breathe in the heady scent of roses or lingered just that little bit longer outside the bakery to savour the smell of fresh bread and pastry?

Studies now show there may be method in your madness. According to Theresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute: ‘Scents can have positive effects on mood, stress reduction, sleep enhancement, self confidence and cognitive performance’.

When we breathe in a scent, the smell is relayed to area of the brain that governs emotions. Pamela Dalton of the Monell Chemical Senses Centre advises using a particular scent to accompany meditation or a relaxation session. After repeating the process a few times the scent will become associated with a sense of calm and its smell alone will be enough to elicit relaxation.

If baking bread or picking roses are too tricky to fit into the schedule, invest in some essential oils. We particularly recommend Peppermint Oil to refresh and invigorate, and Lavender Oil to de-stress and unwind.