Spa Scents..

Bizzie Buzz here with thoughts on Spa Scents…


I did manage to get to the Spa last weekend and let me tell you I really needed it. As you know I have been spending some time thinking about ways to extend and expand the Spa experience at home. I have been paying particular to all the things that make these trips so pleasurable for me.


In a nod to Spring I decided to forgo my favorite Hot Stone treatment for an Aromatherapy Massage. Obviously this massage is all about the idea of scents and how they affect our well-being. As I relaxed and inhaled a lovely mix of essential oils (in this case lavender and neroli) I began to think of the real impact our sense of smell has on us.


Almost all living things depend upon their sense of smell for their very existence. Our nostrils are attached to a part of our brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones. When you inhale essential oil molecules, during an aromatherapy massage, messages are transmitted to the limbic system. The limbic system affects heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion, and the immune system. Scents can trigger intense feelings. Pretty powerful stuff!


The memory of a scent can hold all aspects of a moment including sounds, sights, faces, and thoughts. In Greek mythology each of the gods had his or her own scent that the Greeks described as part of a god’s 'presence' while the Egyptians referred to the use of scents as 'divine perspiration'.


Ok, enough of the science. For me a great way to extend and replicate this Spa experience is to purchase the massage oils used in my Spa’s signature treatments. The massage oil can be used as moisturizing oil after a bath to enhance relaxation and create a sense of calm. You can also create your own treatment by using the oil to give yourself a head to toe warm message before crawling under the covers for the night.


If you find the products at your Spa too pricey, buy your own essential oils and mix and match to create a delicious blend. (Think of it as your “house blend”). Each essential oil has different healing properties. Some of the most popular are:


Calming – chamomile and lavender


Uplifting – ylang ylang, clary sage, rose, and neroli


Energizing – rosemary


Cleansing – rosemary


Decongesting – eucalyptus, pine, and tea tree


There are many different things that can encourage and expand the relaxation of your Spa days. Keep thinking of what it is you enjoy most and treat yourself to something that can help duplicate that experience in your very own bathroom.


One final thing…to create an authentic Spa experience in you own bathroom, remember to dress the part. What is the first thing you do when you go to the Spa? You undress and slip into a comfy robe and slippers. Why not set aside a special robe and slippers to be used only for these occasions?


I have some great ideas on Spa attire that you are sure to love!


-Bizzie - signing off for now. Check in next week- with more great spa ideas.