One of the five and probably the most important sense in humans is that of smell or olfaction and to be honest I seem to have a rather strong one. It’s actually quite funny but very often I find myself ‘smelling’ things which others don’t seem to be able to.
According to thousands of researches done over the years many have concluded that the inhalation of different scents during different times of our lives highly affects brain function “since the fragrance compounds are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with receptors in the central nervous system.” That’s why a scent has no special connotation until it becomes connected to something that means something. From the moment we pick up a bottle of perfume or take a whiff of a flower or plant we immediately begin forming nerve connections that link that smell with our emotions through our hippocampus (the brain area involved in the association of information with short-term to long-term memory). For me as soon as I say I love a smell I almost immediately start feeling the emotional link being formed between the specific smell and the happy feelings I am experiencing.
We all have individual scents that we associate with different aspects of our lives. Whether it is a scent that helps us cope with a difficult situation like lavender or a perfume that reminds us of some happy times, we all have them. The important thing though is to always have in mind that a scent also helps shape the impression we make on others therefore when choosing a personal fragrance, you need to select carefully and wisely as to what feeling you want to “evoke”. A floral scent is usually romantic and feminine whereas an amber or oudy scent is more exotic, mysterious and sultry.
My current favourites are Mirto di Panarea by Acqua Di Parma. It is a citrus based smell with a touch of jasmine and amber notes and it reminds me of summer and fun times with my family…it’s what they say “sunshine in a bottle”!
My second most favourite is Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne paired with Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne by Jo Malone. This is what I like about Jo Malone perfumes, the fact that you can combine two colognes together and create your own statement scent that people can recognise you from!
Perfumes make us feel and smell good and they can amplify our mood if we use them wisely. They can even boost our mood making us feel happy and trigger happy memories. They can boost confidence or relax us. Perfumes can also attract you to someone or make someone attracted to you just as long as it is pleasant and sensual to that someone.
So whenever you feel a little down or lack a bit of energy all you have to do is spray a bit of perfume or smell your favourite smell and automatically your mood will change! I’m not saying that perfumes improve our health but they definitely create positive feelings and lower stress levels!
“Perfume is the art that makes memory speak!
Francis Kurkdjian
Till next week…
