BREATHE THE SCENT OF YOUR LIFE

As the holiday season approaches, how special it can be to recall holidays past.  I remember family dinners.  I remember clothes that people saved for those state occasions.  I remember foods that never taste quite the same when I try to duplicate them today.  I remember colors.  I remember sounds.  I remember street scenes...but, most of all, I remember aromas.  Strange?  Not really.  According to Dr. Alan Hirsch, smell is the most powerful scent we have.  It can trigger memories, can improve our relationships and can even affect our sense of well being.
 I recall the scent of my "bubbi's" stuffed cabbage because it was not just cabbage.  It was family, security, and a sense of belonging to a particularly distinctive loving inner circle.  I remember the aroma of "Youth Dew," my mother's favorite perfume.  This is more than a bygone fragrance.   It evokes memories of my mother - her presentation, her glamour, her sense of herself.  My dad, too, had his favorite shaving cream and the trace of Old Spice brings back so many memories of my dad.....his travels, his luggage.  And how could I ever forget the essence of Selma Friedman's kitchen.  Mrs. Friedman was our neighbor and what a cook she was.  She taught me how to bake challah and how to form matzo balls.  Is it any wonder that, when I go back to visit Michigan, the Stage Deli is always a "must go" destination.  I always need more of the pleasures that brought me so much comfort.  Thank you, Selma.     
Even today, retailers know how scents seduce us.  Dr. Hirsch knows that sweet scents induce arousal for men and women.  Donuts and black licorice are particularly powerful stimulants for men.  He has said that pumpkin scent will also cause increased penile blood flow.  Women feel sexier as well around "Good and Plenty" candy.  It has also been found that the smell of great banana nut bread can reduce anxiety and reduced anxiety positively affects libido.     Is it hard for you to resist fattening delicacies?  At Weight Watchers meetings several years ago, I learned that breathing in the smells of freshly baked cookies or pizza can actually reduce the craving you feel for them.  This still works for me.  Who would have guessed that the aroma of baking Toll House cookies may actually help you to lose weight?     Stresses?  The smell of lavender can increase the alpha wave activity in your brain and allow you to experience a more relaxed state.  For some, wearing a lavender chest patch can even increase ability to sleep peacefully.  And my daughter taught me something important about the calming qualities of balm that pleases the nose.  Many years after the death of my husband, she advised that "When you miss him painfully, wear one of his old shirts to sleep.  It will help you rest."  She was right.     Many of us know that a cup of coffee can help us to wake up in the morning.  Recognize that merely smelling the coffee can help you to feel alert.  One whiff can help you to open your eyes with more enthusiasm.   
 Studies have additionally shown that the scent of rosemary can help to improve our memory.  Putting rosemary oil in a diffuser has been known to improve prospective memory by 15%.     
So now that you know that aromas can make a difference in how you experience your life, do enjoy the holidays and take care when planning your menu and the bouquet of your home.  The beauty of life is in each precious moment -  so stop and smell the roses. 

Please Feel Free To Contact my Office Anytime

Our Location

Serving Athens, Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, and surrounding areas

Hours of Operation

Find Out When We Are Open

Monday:

Open 24 hours

Tuesday:

Open 24 hours

Wednesday:

Open 24 hours

Thursday:

Open 24 hours

Friday:

Open 24 hours

Saturday:

Open 24 hours

Sunday:

Open 24 hours