The Right Scents: Smells for Sleep and for Waking Up

[Bethers]

I just read a really interesting article - and I like the idea of using scents to help sleep well naturally - and to help me stay awake and more productive naturally. Here's a link to the article:

The Right Scents

[retiredhappy]

I used to have a Night Blooming Jasmine at my house and when it was blooming I would cut bunches of it and put it beside my bed. Now I understand why I liked it so much. Also used to put dried lavender with my linens. Think I'll get some lavender or jasmine oil tomorrow. I go to sleep fine but wake up 3 or 4 times a night. Annoying.

[oregontocal]

Thank you for the article, Beth, as well as the link to the neat website. I promptly joined to get their weekly newsletter. We grew a LOT of lavender in Portland, all from 12 little cuttings from a friend in Seattle a few years ago, and I have a large plastic bag of it with me. So, I poured some into a bowl to make this place smell good tonight.

[Cedar518]

I know that the scent of evergreen trees relaxes me. And coffee's scent revs me up,.... just the thought of it!

[Echo]

Thanks for the article Beth it was interesting.

I love the smell of Jasmin and lavender. And of course they now make baby bath and lotion with the lavender aroma. Now if only they could bottle the smell of the woods after a good rain!!!

The only part of the article that I would disagree with is the comment about the "creepy sound machines". I have one and I love the thing. The one setting of 'Summer night' is my fave. I about wore mine out so Kelly gave me the one she had. Nothing like going to sleep to the sounds of a summer night with all the peepers and stuff and included is the sound of running water in a creek. Ahhhhh nightly heaven. LOL

[Bethers]

I'm going to play with the scents for staying awake - maybe keep something lemon scented near me when I'm driving. I absolutely love to drive, but on occasion, I get sleepy and usually pull over and walk a bit - and will still do that - but would love to have something like that to help also.

[AlmostThere]

Using scents for health and well being is called aromatherapy. Nowadays most grocery stores seem to have a health food section where essential oils can be bought, although true essential oils can be costly. There is a myriad of books on the subject.

[Bethers]

Yeah, I have a friend I helped with an online aromatherapy store - but many of the claims there aren't proven - so I really like studies like these. I always knew about lavender - but I went to a couple aromatherapy sites and they didn't have anything on the lemon helping with awareness, etc -

I'm one of those that buy most things unscented - so I choose my scents very carefully when I do get something scented - or I choose to do things naturally -like when I was selling my house, I baked cookies before the open house.

[AlmostThere]

I believe lemongrass is the one for awareness.

[oregontocal]

About the sound machines---I gave my friend Lou one for Christmas last year, although it doesn't make any sound at all. My transaction has dropped off eBay because it's too old. However, they call it a "white noise machine" and I guess it works pretty well.