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Our Wonderful Sense of Smell

5/4/2017

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This past week I have been studying up on our sense of smell, more specifically our bodies’ olfactory and limbic systems.  I am doing this in preparation to present to a group of elementary students tomorrow for their “Living off the Land” event.  You may remember I attended last year as well, giving a demonstration on lip balm making, and it was such a great day!  This year I decided to switch things up and am doing a hands-on exploration of aromatherapy and its effect on the body both emotionally and physically, using smelling jars…I’ll post more about this later, after the event.
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​Anyways, my anatomy and physiology is a little rusty to say the least.  Coincidently, this is also the area I am working on in my aromatherapy certification course presently so that’s convenient timing.  While the technical jargon is not particularly my cup of tea, I do feel that it is pretty important for an aromatherapist to be able to know how these processes work in order to make and utilize effective remedies. 

I learned a few things this week about our sense of smell that are pretty fascinating to say the least!
  • Fun Fact: Smelling an orange can relieve stress by up to 70%!
  • Once an aroma is inhaled, it can reach the brain in just a matter of seconds and the entire body within minutes.
  • There are over 6-10 million olfactory receptor cells within the nasal cavity, which can detect at least 1 trillion different aromas.
  • The olfactory bulb (which sends aromatic impulses to the brain) is only one synapse away from the amygdala (the brain’s emotional control center) - suggesting the great potential aromatherapy has on influencing our emotions.
  • Scent is closely tied to our memories: when a new scent is smelled for the first time our brain makes an imprint of the surroundings; then when we smell the same scent in the future a memory or feeling tied to it is automatically evoked.
  • Our sense of smell shuts down while we are sleeping.
  • Women have a better sense of smell than men! (Sorry guys!)
  • The scent of coffee beans can act as a “palate cleanser” when the nose becomes overstimulated.
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    Megan

    Founder of the Lavender Giraffe, certified aromatherapist, lover of nature, amateur yogi, fit foodie, and boy-mom!

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Disclaimer: All content on this site, The Lavender Giraffe, reflects the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of its author, Megan Hemling and/or guest contributors.  It is intended for general informational purposes only and not to diagnose, treat, or cure.  Therefore, it is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical professional who is familiar with your health history and conidition. We encourage discussing any new therapies with your healthcare provider prior to use.

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