Home thoughts: Uplifting scents key to a happy home

'Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived." -- Helen Keller

Nearly any real estate agent will tell you that one of the surest ways to appeal to a would-be buyer is to have an enticing smell -- freshly baked cookies, brewing coffee, simmering soup -- wafting through your home when it is being toured.

The olfactory system, which senses and processes odours, is one of the oldest parts of the brain. Among our senses, smell alone has a unique relationship with the limbic system, a key emotional centre associated with our moods, behaviour, and long-term memory.

In the book Aroma: The Cultural History of Smell, the use of fragrance in the home is described as having been a matter of "practical housekeeping" for our ancient relatives. Clothes stored in cedar chests were not only kept fragrant, but also protected from moths. Incense burned in storerooms both perfumed the wares within and helped ward off rodents.

More recently, the therapeutic use of scents -- like many other traditional practices, including naturopathy, massage, and Ayurvedic medicine -- is starting to receive growing attention, both from the general public and the scientific community.

Aromatic research, while still in its infancy, is already beginning to show that the smells in our homes, workplaces, and institutions such as hospitals can have a measurable effect on how comfortable we feel, and on our ability to handle stressful situations.

SMELLS THAT HEAL

Aromatherapy, which uses aromatic compounds from plants to affect a person's mood or health, is thought to have been in existence for some 6,000 years. The Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used essential oils. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, is thought to have used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.

The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after inadvertently experiencing the benefits of lavender oil.

Today, aromatherapy is considered one of the fastest growing fields in holistic medicine. In some countries, including France, it has already been incorporated into mainstream medicine.

"People are realizing the therapeutic value of essential oils," says Pat Antoniak, a registered nurse and registered aromatherapist who owns the Natural Comfort Wellness Centre in Tsawwassen (www.naturalcomfort.ca). "People are starting to see the limitations of pharmacology, and looking to get away from petrochemicals."

While scientific research on the cause and effect of aromatherapy is still limited, in vitro testing and a few double-blind studies have demonstrated the antibacterial and antiviral effects of some essential oils, and the abilities of others to reduce stress and anxiety. A recent study, conducted at Manhattan's Sloan-Kettering Hospital, found that stress related to claustrophobia during MRI scans could be reduced by nearly 63 per cent by the use of a vanilla scent.

SMELLS THAT HARM

It is important to note that not all seemingly pleasant scents are created equal. You may love the "morning dew" smell of your bathroom air freshener or the vanilla essence that wafts from your favourite candle. However, the aroma emanating from these products may be far from natural, let alone therapeutic.

The Nova Scotia Department of Labour found that the air in many department stores -- often replete with fragrances and scent-laden personal care products -- actually contains more chemicals than the air in autobody shops. The most abundant chemical in both locations is toluene, a known toxin.

It has also been determined that, depending on the formula, there can be chemicals in fragrances -- perfume and cologne -- and related products that can cause cancer in some occupational settings or in laboratory animals.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, while there's commonly a wide range of chemicals in fragrances, the amounts of these chemicals are often very small.

The centre also suggests that in order to demonstrate carcinogenic effects, much higher amounts of the product would be required.

They do note, however, that for some allergy and asthma sufferers, even the smallest amount of an odour can trigger an attack.

People experiencing multiple chemical sensitivity also report being affected, describing symptoms ranging from mild irritation, to feeling "incapacitated" and forced to avoid many public places in order to limit exposure.

YOUR NOSE KNOWS

Just because a scent is natural, however, doesn't mean that it is safe. People can experience allergic reactions to even the most natural of oils and aromas.

Professionals recommend that people allow themselves to be guided by their natural preference. If you like an essential oil, you will enjoy using it. However, if you feel obligated to try one just because it is supposed to be good for a particular ailment, but you hate the aroma, it is likely your body's way of telling you to choose something else.

Antoniak advises consumers to look for the following things when purchasing essential oils:

- Ensure that the Latin name is either printed on the bottle or that the sale staff can tell you what it is.

- Consider the price, as it is a good indicator of the quality. If all the five-ml bottles are marked the same, at least one or more of the oils is not pure.

- Avoid oils (aside from the tester) displayed under bright lights and in hot areas.

- Check the dilution of the product. One-hundred-per-cent rose oil is drastically different than 10 per cent (the remainder being a carrier oil). This can often explain significant price differences.

- Whenever possible, opt for products that are labelled certified organic or biodynamic for some assurance that they are free of pesticides and meet standardization.

SNIFFING OUT MORE
B.C. Association of Practicing Aromatherapists, www.bcapa.org
B.C. Alliance of Aromatherapy, www.bcaoa.org
The International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy, www.ijca.net

(prepared by Kim Davis/Vancouver Sun)