Have you ever caught a waft of someones perfume and been instantly taken back to your grans bedroom? Or smelled fresh cut grass and been transported back to your childhood carefree summer holidays?

That’s the magic of scent, it sneaks into our memories and moods without us even noticing. One deep breath can lift your spirits, calm a racing mind, or remind you of home.

In my “Den of Zen”, I see this all the time. The blends I put together aren’t just about a nice smell, they’re about creating a feeling. A little pocket of calm, joy, or reassurance you can carry with you long after your treatment ends.

That’s what I mean by Scent & Sensibility, how aromatherapy can shape the way we feel and the memories we hold onto.

🌿 Why scent is so powerful

Out of all our senses, smell is the one most tied to emotion and memory. When you breathe something in, it heads straight to the limbic system, the part of the brain that deals with feelings and memories.

That’s why smells hit differently to sights or sounds. They’re direct, instant, and very personal. Lavender might help one person drift off, while for someone else it brings up memories of drawer scent bags.

Scents aren’t “just a smell” they’re little time machines for the emotions.

We’ve all had those moments where a smell catches us off guard:

• Fresh cut grass – summer holidays, childhood freedom (and for some of us, hayfever sneezes!).
• Sunscreen – days on the beach, holidays abroad, that carefree feeling of escape.
• Baking bread or a Sunday roast – comfort, warmth, family togetherness.
• Parma Violets – for me, that powdery-sweet scent will always remind me of my grandma. Her handbag always carried that little whisper of violet, and one whiff takes me straight back to being with her.

It’s funny how a single scent can carry us right back, isn’t it?

This is why I love aromatherapy treatments. When I blend oils, it’s not just about choosing what smells nice it’s about creating an anchor.

• A touch of bright citrus on a gloomy Plympton morning = a little pocket of sunshine.
• Grounding frankincense or soft ylang ylang during an oncology massage = comfort and calm.
• Petitgrain with a whisper of lavender for rest = telling your nervous system: you can let go now.

I even make little bespoke inhalers (my clients know them as “sniffy thingies” 🤭). Last week I made one for a nervous bride-to-be. She wasn’t a fan of lavender, so instead we created a calming blend of petitgrain, bergamot, and frankincense oils she could use on the big day. A tiny tube, but a huge sense of support in her pocket but the smell will always remind her of her wedding day.

Every blend I create has this intention behind it, chosen with care, for both the body and the emotions.

You don’t always need to be in the “Den of Zen” to use aromatherapy. A few simple oils at home can work wonders:

• Need a lift? Pop sweet orange or bergamot in your diffuser on a grey morning.
• Ready to rest? Petitgrain or chamomile in the bath (or on your pillow) can help you wind down.
• Need focus? Rosemary or peppermint can cut through brain fog and sharpen you up.

The trick is to slow down when you breathe them in. Notice how you feel, lighter, calmer, more centred. That tiny pause is where the magic is.

That’s why I blend with purpose. To help you relax, yes but also to give you something more lasting: a memory of calm, a shift in mood, an anchor you can return to.