Functional Fragrances
Have you ever smelled fresh citrus and instantly felt more energized? Or caught the scent of lavender and felt yourself begin to relax?
While fragrance isn't medicine, our sense of smell has a remarkable connection to memory, emotion, and mood. That's one of the ideas behind the growing interest in functional fragrances.
Researchers continue to study how fragrance may influence mood, stress perception, relaxation, and emotional well-being. While some fragrance ingredients have shown promising effects in laboratory and small human studies, results can vary greatly from person to person.
Functional fragrances should be viewed as a complement to well-being and not a replacement for medical care or evidence-based treatment.
You've got three original scents to create. You can use Jojoba or fractionated coconut oil for the base; think of it as choosing between a chocolate or vanilla cake. If you're feeling a bit rebellious, you can even use Perfumer's alcohol or Everclear.
Your perfume vessel could be a roller ball container, pick any size that tickles your fancy. These formulas will conjure up 15 ml of perfume, just enough to keep you smelling divine.
Here's my method: I like to plop the essential oils into the container first and then use a pipette to add the base (kind of like adding milk to your tea). Give it a good shake, like you're mixing a cocktail. Apply to pulse points and voila, you're a walking bouquet!
Calming Functional Fragrance
13.5 ml of either oil or alcohol
15 drops of lavender essential oil
15 drops of sweet orange essential oil
5 drops patchouli essential oil
Energizing Functional Fragrance
13.5 ml of either alcohol or oil
10 drops of lemon essential oil
5 drops of sweet orange essential oil
5 drops of rosemary essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops of spearmint essential oil
Aphrodisiac Functional Fragrance
13.5 ml of either alcohol or oil
5 drops of sweet orange essential oil
5 drops of cardamom essential oil
3 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil
2 drops of patchouli essential oil
2 drops of vetiver essential oil
2 drops of jasmine absolute
You can find essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and Jojoba oil. You can find the roll-on containers from Amazon, and most well-stocked liquor stores will have Everclear or 150-proof vodka. Fragrance experiences are highly individual. What feels calming or uplifting to one person may not have the same effect for someone else.
Never use essential oils undiluted in eyes or mucus membranes. Only take internally if working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children. If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue use.
Before using topically, perform a small patch test on your inner forearm or back by applying a small quantity of diluted essential oil and a bandage. Wash the area if you experience any irritation. If no irritation occurs after 48 hours, it may be safe to use on your skin.
The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated this information. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is for educational purposes only.