The extraordinary olfactory effects of doTERRA essential oils
The human sense of smell is a powerful tool. Smell can produce important mental, emotional, and physiological responses, depending on how different aromas react with the brain.
As volatile aromatic compounds, doTERRA essential oils have the ability to disperse quickly into the air. The volatility (or ability to quickly change state) of essential oils allows the user to quickly and easily experience the aroma of an essential oil—the second a bottle is opened.
As mentioned earlier, doTERRA essential oils interact with chemical sensors in the brain, creating a response. These chemical sensors are called olfactory sensors. They live in the brain’s olfactory system – the part of the brain that regulates our sense of smell. The olfactory system is connected to the limbic system, where emotions and memories are stored.
When using essential oils aromatically, the scent travels through the nose to the olfactory system where it is processed, and then travels through the olfactory nerve to the limbic system. In the limbic system, the aroma triggers responses in the brain based on memories and experiences. Because of these reactions in the brain, essential oils have a particularly powerful effect when applied aromatically. Due to the volatility of essential oils, the aromatic use of essential oils is one of the most effective methods of application - the user of the oil can experience the benefits of a scent quickly and conveniently. When using aromatic essential oils, they are easily inhaled and absorbed through the airways and lungs, and then circulated into the bloodstream.
By inhaling the scent of an essential oil, it triggers specific reactions based on our own individual emotions, behaviors, memories, and experiences. This is why using aromas is an important part of mood control – reactions in the brain cause physiological responses that can alter and improve mood.
The chemical structure of essential oils
You may be wondering, “How does an essential oil provide calming, uplifting, or energizing sensations?” Due to their chemical makeup, essential oils can, in most cases, be classified as having uplifting or calming effects. Learn how the chemical structure of plants and essential oils allows them to have specific uplifting, calming, and mood-altering properties.
Mint : Commonly known to be uplifting and stimulating due to a high concentration of ketones.
Floral : Generally composed of monoterpene alcohols, which provide calming characteristics.
Tree, Grass and Turf : Primarily includes sesquiterpenes, oxides and esters, which help promote calming, grounding emotions and feelings of renewal.
Citrus : Contains chemical components such as beta-pingent, monoterpenes and limonene, which have significant stimulant characteristics.
Essencedeshuiles offers you the complete Home Essential dōTERRA kit , it contains 9 bottles of essential oil: frankincense, lavender, lemon, tea tree, oregon, peppermint, dōTERRA Air, Deep Blue, ZenGest, dōTERRA On Guard and a dōTERRA petal diffuser.
