The Language Of Incense

- Dr Blossom Kochhar

Every time you walk past a bakery, you take a quick glance to see the source of the aroma that’s pulling you in. Walkthrough a garden and the fragrance of flowers transports you to another world. Enter a spa and you are instantly relaxed with the fragrance oozing out of a diffuser. That’s the power of smell and fragrance; it works in myriad ways on a person’s mind and body. Aromatherapy is the language of incense. The nomenclature is derived from two words: ‘aroma’ means the fragrance or sweet smell with a subtly pervasive quality and ‘therapy’ means the treatment designed to cure.

Aromatherapy is a holistic method of healing based on the skillful use of pure essential oils, which stimulate the natural regenerative processes of the body. Ancient Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome used them as perfumes in cosmetic preparations, incense, and medicines.

The intriguing aspect of aromas is their ability to evoke memories—not just visual images of past happenings but also emotions. That is why the smell of freshly brewed coffee or yummy food can remind you of your grandmother as it evokes a lot of memories and makes you nostalgic and reminiscent of a lot associated with that aroma.

Aromas can also trigger a variety of chemical actions within the body which include releasing of hormones that relax, calm, excite or stimulate and generally create a sense of well-being.

THE POWER OF ESSENTIAL OILS