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We sniffed around the Aromatherapy category in the Yahoo! Directory and tried several fragrant searches. While we couldn't come up with one absolute answer, we did find some smells that may soothe your stressed or tired nose. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential plant oils to improve one's psychological and physical well-being. There's little, if any, scientific support for this therapy, but some people find comfort in using natural scents. Aromatherapists and related businesses seem to have slightly different ideas on which essential oils to use for specific ailments. One scent that kept
coming up in our searches as being very relaxing is lavender. This flowering plant has been used for centuries in medicinal concoctions. It's a common ingredient in products aimed at relaxation and stress relief, such as pillows, bath oils, and lotions. Lavender is also a popular scent to use on clothing so the smell lingers with you for long-term soothing. Other frequently recommended scents for stress relief and relaxation include chamomile, ylang ylang, clary sage, bergamot, frankincense, and sandalwood. However, the ultimate relaxing scent will vary from person to person. Aromatherapists point out that a
person's own memories and associations with an aroma can have a positive or negative effect. If a despised teacher always smelled of lavender, you may find the scent unappealing. So you might start with your personal favorite scents when looking for a relaxing aroma.
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