The Science of Scent: Essential Oils 101

Today, essential oils are having a renaissance as a holistic practice for taking care of oneself, and for good reason. Essential oils–powerful plant extracts–not only offer a pleasurable experience but inherit the unique healing powers from the plants they are derived from, which can be harnessed for emotional, spiritual, and physiological well-being. Their miraculous healing powers represent a purer and ancient form of healing, but the science of scent is worth understanding, too. 

The History of Essential Oils Around the World 

The miraculous healing powers of essential oils date back thousands of years and across cultures. As early as 2000 BC, ancient Egyptians used essential oils for medicinal treatments and religious ceremonies, and considered them essential to cosmetology, spirituality, and embalming. In India, traditional Ayurvedic literature documents Indian doctors as having used oils such as ginger, coriander, and sandalwood to treat sick patients. The “Veda,” India’s most sacred book of hymns and one of the oldest books on plants, lists over 700 plants and substances used for medical purposes. The Chinese, Greeks, and Romans, too, recorded evidence of botanicals’ ability to awaken the healing energies within the body and aid physical ailments. As recently as 2014, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine highlighted the possibility of essential oils being used as an antibiotic therapy to enhance aspects of human health.

What Are Essential Oils?

Just like there are thousands of plant species, there are thousands of different types of essential oils hidden in leaves, flowers, stems, bark, or resins. These oils are extracted through labor-intensive methods—either distillation or cold-pressing—that have gone largely unchanged for centuries. The word “essential” refers to the fact that the oil contains the essence of the plant, which gives them their distinct aroma. 

Getting down to the science: essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile chemical compounds that–along with giving the plant its scent–protect them from hazardous environmental conditions and assist with pollination. The intense concentration of extract offers a number of physical and psychological benefits, including antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and more. For instance, soothing rose oil, a widely-used medicinal plant extracted from petals of the Rosa species, is highly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and has been scientifically proven to aid in depression and anxiety and promote psychological relaxation; lemon oil’s purifying properties are found to support immune function, aid in mood and anxiety, and help regulate hormone levels. 

Essential Oils to Turn Inward, Connect Outward 

In today’s fast-paced world, essential oils–and the practice of aromatherapy–are a way of pulling you into the present moment and elevating your mood.  According to a study exploring the relationship between aromatherapy and the central nervous system, inhaling essential oils is one of the quickest ways to regulate mood and reduce stress. Use them by smelling mindfully, setting an intention as you place a drop of essential oil onto your palms, and cupping your hands over your nose. Since each essential oil has specific therapeutic properties, it’s good to understand them beyond their gorgeous scents. Below are a few of the oils we harness at Belnu to improve mood, turn inward, and connect outward.

1. Frankincense: an woody aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia that strengthens the respiratory system, relieves anxiety, and improves memory. Sourced from Somalia. 
2. Patchouli: Provides antiseptic and antiinflammatory properties to deeply cleanse the skin of impurities, and when inhaled, significantly lower stress levels and aid in sleep. Sourced from India.
3. Orange Blossom: Extracted from the flowers of bitter orange trees, the oil helps the brain release serotonin and reduce levels of cortisol, and was also found to boost energy levels in females. Sourced from Morocco.