Studies by Hirsch have shown that the sweet oriental smell of ginger in baked goods can elicit feelings of nostalgia. Dried ginger has been used for centuries to treat stomachaches and nausea, and there are many teas today that contain ginger.
At home: Making (and decorating) a gingerbread house with kids is a delicious holiday tradition. Ginger is also a popular scent in skin products and items such as candles and misters.
Orange/citrus
The sweet, sharp aroma of oranges, tangerines and mandarins is both relaxing and mood-enhancing. Rankin also notes that the scent of citrus helps make people feel more awake and alert.
At home: Make mulled wine with grated orange rind or simmer orange peel in a pot with cinnamon sticks to warm the spirit. Try Bliss Booster, one of three Scentology fragrances that Herz developed. It's a particular citrus scent that has been shown in studies to make people feel happy. For more information about the benefits of certain scents, visit Scentology's website at www.scentology.com.
Peppermint
Peppermint has a powerful minty-fresh fragrance. There is a lot of data that shows mint is a smell that evokes an invigorating response, says Herz. Ingested, mint teas and peppermints help digest heavy foods. The aroma is also thought to be stimulating and energizing. Many foot-soothing creams contain mint.
At home: Hang candy canes on the tree. Mini candy canes make great coffee stirrers and crushed candy canes can be used as a topping for cakes or brownies.
Sage
Sage has a floral earthy aroma. Sage tea is soothing to the nerves and can help relieve congestion. Sage is often used in smudging, which is a Native American tradition of cleansing away negative energy with smoke from various herbs or resins.
At home: The cooking aromas of a traditional Christmas dinner are unmistakable – especially the stuffed turkey that roasts in the oven for hours. While every family has its own favourite stuffing recipe, many of those recipes include sage.
Does partaking in all the Christmas festivities ever make you feel like you're giving and getting too much? Read about how to reduce gift giving in your home.
| This story was originally titled "Scents and Sensibility" in the December 2007 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue! |
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