Beauty Byline with Sanah: The Palliative Power of Scent

The saying is true: you don’t realize how important something is until it’s gone. I haven’t been

able to properly smell since I was diagnosed with COVID-19. It’s been three months and I still

get only whiffs of certain scents. The Internet says my sense may need to be retrained to

identify different scents, that I need to inhale strong smells like peppermint, lavender and

eucalyptus. So lately I’ve been surrounding myself with a lot of essential oils and thinking what

is it about oils that make them so good for us?

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts. “Highly concentrated” means a little goes a

long way and too much can be a problem. These oils should always be used with a carrier oil to

dilute it down and make it safe enough for application. Some carrier oils are almond, jojoba,

olive, sunflower seed, avocado and grapeseed. If you’re planning on making your own, make

sure to do some research before mixing.

Most essentials oils are extracted from the aromatic part of the plant. Experts say the oils can

help relieve anxiety, induce sleep, treat some skin conditions, soothe muscle inflammation and

boost energy. Oils can be used on their own with a carrier oil or mixed together for whatever it is

you need. A lot of household products and skincare have these essential oils for either

addressing concerns or fragrance.

This article would never end if I tried to talk about every oil and its use and every mix and its

use. Instead, I’ll mention oils I’ve used myself and how they’ve helped me. The first oil that

comes to mind is peppermint. I get random headaches which last for hours. I’ll take a little bit of

peppermint oil and rub it on my forehead, temples and behind my ears. The smell will instantly

calm my headache and cool my skin. Peppermint can also help with muscle pain, sunburn and

itchy skin conditions like insect bites.

I’ve also been applying a blend of grapefruit oil, grapeseed oil, lemon oil and eucalyptus oil all

over my body to tighten my skin, erase scars and even my skin tone. Each of these essential

oils has benefits that your body needs. Some studies show massaging grapefruit oil may

promote weight loss. Studies conducted on rats have found the scent of grapefruit oil stimulates

the breakdown of fat tissue and reduces food intake. Grapeseed oil is one oil that has a lot of

benefits. This essential oil can help reduce the signs of aging, sun spots, wrinkles, acne, lighten

scars, hydrate and firm, and even lessen hyperpigmentation. The oil contains high amounts of

omega fatty acids and vitamin E which is why you’ll find it in a lot of skincare products and why I

never go a day without it. The scent of lemon oil can calm you and enhance the body’s

detoxification process. And the scent of eucalyptus oil helps relieve stress and anxiety which are

connected to overeating and weight gain.

And just like that I’m over my word limit. This will now be a two-parter because I have so much

more to share. Hopefully the next time you hear from me, I’ll be able to smell a little bit more

because I’m missing out on a lot of scents and it doesn’t feel right. What does coffee smell like

again?.