Stress is unavoidable in all walks of life, and many people are looking for answers. Historical stress reliefs such as alcohol and tobacco products are falling out of fashion as the damage they cause is becoming better understood. The consensus is that stress relief at the cost of health simply isn't worth it.
Three-quarters of Americans report being stressed to the point of experiencing a negative impact on their health. The answer to the constant friction of wrestling with our emotional and physical well beings isn't obvious. Potential solutions are touted at every turn, many of which are expensive and ineffective.
It's times like these that turning to mother nature can make all the difference. If you're feeling a little strung out, the soothing properties of jasmine essential oil could be just the ticket! Read on to find out more.
What is Jasmine Essential Oil?
Jasmine essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the jasmine shrub, which is prized by perfume manufacturers as a key ingredient. Most notably used in Chanel NĀ°5, the subtle and distinctive aroma also has powerful therapeutic qualities when used on its own.
If you're a fan of perfume, you've probably been wearing jasmine oil without even knowing it!
Pure jasmine oil is the product of a process with many steps, starting with the procurement of jasmine flowers on the verge of blossoming. These buds are hand-picked by professionals with a keen eye for taking only ready buds, leaving others for another day. Flowers that have already bloomed are never picked as their scent has already developed past the point of use.
It's due to the skilled and taxing manual labor involved from start to finish that jasmine essential oil is so expensive. The deftness necessary to select and pluck the correct bulbs is as yet impossible to mechanize to the point of replacing skilled workers.
The Science of Smell
Aromatherapy isn't an exact science, but it's clear different scents have a variety of effects on us. These effects range widely from person to person, depending on their likes and dislikes. Scents, just like colors and textures, have an intrinsic substance to them that dazzles our senses.
The effect of scents is incredibly nuanced in human beings. While we often think of photos as being the best route to remembrance, brain scans confirm what has been suspected for years. When it comes to memory, smells are inextricably and powerfully linked to specific moments from our past.
Nostalgia is a heady experience to indulge in, and nothing sets it off quite like a whiff of something half-remembered. Our skin comes out in goosebumps while we're unceremoniously transported back in time to remember a specific moment we had all but forgotten. If you doubt the power of a simple scent, remember it's quite possible to access memories locked deeply away with nothing but our sense of smell!
If you're eager to experience everything jasmine oil has to offer, try our love affair fragrance linked here. The carefully formulated combination of cedar and ambergris serves to enhance the jasmine beautifully, and we're sure you'll agree!
Benefits of Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine oil is described to be warm and exotic, with suggestions of sweet intensity. Suffice it to say it smells lovely, and that alone makes it worth coveting. Jasmine oil has more tricks up its sleeve than a beguiling scent, however.
Some jasmine essential oil uses are surprising. These include decreasing anxiety, fighting depression, heightened alertness, and as a sleep aid. For the most part, these benefits can be achieved by simply appreciating its unique scent and allowing it to calm your senses.
Focusing on a pleasant scent has been shown to lower heart rate significantly. This facilitates focus and is a meditative practice in and of itself. Taking a few minutes out of your day to simply sit and experience the pleasing effects of the scent itself can do wonders for your mental health.
How to Use Jasmine Essential Oil
The best essential oils aren't only worth smelling. They often have antibacterial properties or are otherwise soothing when applied directly to the skin. Jasmine oil has been used for hundreds of years in Thailand, for example, to treat respiratory and skin disorders.
The effectiveness of essential oils for serious ailments can't take the place of modern medicine. This doesn't mean they're not useful, though! Before relying on jasmine oil to cure what ails you, it's always worth doing your research and consulting a medical professional.
Inhaling jasmine oil with steam from a bowl of hot water can help cure a stuffy nose and block sinuses due to being antimicrobial. When used directly as a topical balm, it also helps soothe inflamed skin and reduces the time necessary for wounds to heal. It's clear jasmine oil has its place among even the best lineup of essential oils.
Medical and Meditative
Whatever use you put jasmine essential oil to, you're sure to appreciate why it's been a favorite for thousands of years. Humanity has a long and storied history with the flora and fauna we evolved alongside, especially when it comes to flowers.
Jasmine is an especially unique and potent flower, one which our ancestors no doubt appreciated just as much as we do, if not more so. When appreciation for a thing is so foundational its beginnings are lost to history, you can bet it's worth your time. If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the blog today!