Today, woody fragrances continue to be beloved for their warm, inviting and complex nature. This makes them a particularly great choice as we transition into the fall and winter months. Below, we reveal the 5 overarching types of wood used to create world-renowned woody fragrances, and offer our favorite examples of oil blends that contain these unique and fragrant woods.
Sandalwood is commonly described as warm and slightly sweet. The scent is both relaxing, but also may have aphrodisiac effects. It has actually been shown to boost physiological and self-rated arousal in humans, says one 2006 study. This is not only connected to sexual arousal, but a variety of other beneficial qualities: “alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation and vigor.” Our Santal fragrance is one of the best when it comes to capturing the luxuriousness and sensuality of sandalwood
Cedarwood is praised for its soft yet rustic qualities. Not only is the oil calming and grounding, but it may have some antiseptic effects and qualities. Cedarwood is often used as a base note in relaxing oil blends. Experience its benefits first hand with our Vanilla Cedarwood Sage aroma oil.
Pine is often thought of as a seasonal fragrance, recalling warm winter memories and holiday cheer. This crisp and invigorating scent has many different associations for different people. But almost everyone can testify to the clean, earthy, and fresh qualities of pine. Transport yourself to your favorite tall pine forest with our Winter Pine blend.
Oud, or agarwood, is often described as complex and pleasing. The scent of oud oils can vary widely however, based on factors like species, geographic location, the tree’s branch, trunk and root origin, and methods of harvesting and processing. The scent can be distinguished by a combination of "oriental-woody" and "very soft fruity-floral" notes. Because it’s a natural source of such complex and pleasing fragrances, oud is wildly popular in the scenting and perfumery world, often serving as a base to many of the most popular fragrances on the market. Our Oud Saphir oil pays homage to this legendary, exotic woody scent.
Teak and Bamboo are quickly becoming more and more popular in the scenting world. Teak is a hardwood, and its trees are known for their fragrant white flowers which are often arranged in dense clusters at the end of its tree branches. Our Black Tea & Teak blend perfectly captures the essence of this warm & autumnal wood.
Below, we’ll reveal exactly what those aromatic benefits are. But before we get started, if you’re unfamiliar with the benefits of drinking tea, we’ll jump into a quick overview of this delicious and healthy beverage.
When it comes to overall health, different teas offer a wide ranging list of benefits. Green teas such asjasmine may raise the metabolic rate, making green tea a popular weight loss aid. The catechins found in jasmine and other green teas have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, and may even benefit cardiovascular health. Most studies theorize that this is because of the rich antioxidant content found in green teas.
Aged teas like pure tea (which comes in both green and black varieties) may be particularly helpful when it comes to circulation and digestion. This may be one reason why traditionally, pure tea was often consumed after heavier or larger meals, or served with dim sum: to help assimilate the extra food and nutrients, and aid in digestion. Several studies have found an association with regular pure tea consumption and reduced body fat, as well as improved lipid profiles.
Tea’s aromatherapeutic potential is less widely known than the benefits of simply drinking tea. However, recent studies continue to shine light on this promising area.
Regular tea drinkers may tell you that the aroma of well-brewed tea is calming in and of itself. As it turns out, they’re not wrong. One 2005 study found that the diffusion of jasmine tea’s aroma produced calming, yet vigorous mood states in 24 healthy human subjects. Researchers concluded that the aroma of jasmine “has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states.”
A Japanese study published in 2018 found similar effects when the scent of black tea was inhaled. The subjects of the study were given stress-inducing arithmetic problems. The researchers found that “inhaling black tea aroma may diminish stress levels caused by arithmetic mental stress tasks.” The scent of one black tea in particular (Darjeeling) even “tended to improve mood before mental stress load.”
Looking to reap the benefits that a quality tea aroma can offer? These are our favorite choices for filling your space with the calming scents of tea.
If you already have a favorite tea, you can place the dry, scented tea leaves in an open container within the room you wish to scent. Eventually, the aroma of the leaves themselves will scent the room. The downside of this method is that it’s only really effective for quite small rooms, and of course it eventually spoils the tea leaves that you could otherwise brew delicious tea with.
That’s why we recommend our own tea aroma oils listed above. The aroma oil blends feature pure essential oils and are 100% safe for your home, family, and pets. If you diffuse them with one of our cold air nebulizing diffusers, the aroma can last for many hours and cover a much wider surface area. You can learn more about our diffusers here.
]]>So what are the main safety concerns with electric essential oil diffusers? For most individuals, the safety risks don’t result from essential oils or aroma oils themselves. In fact, these oils have been shown to offer several health benefits. Even the FDA has labelled essential oils as GRAS (“generally recognized as safe”).
The safety concerns come, for the most part, in regards to the diffuser itself. Cheap, low quality diffusers can malfunction, and any diffusion method that involves an open flame, or heat, has the potential to cause a burn.
Electric diffusers that employ water, or water reservoirs, in order to function can have their concerns as well. Stagnant water can encourage growth of microbes or bacteria - especially in diffusers that are hard to clean.
Now that we know the main electric diffuser safety concerns, let’s take a look at some simple ways to combat the most common safety issues.
Avoid Cheap Diffusers - a simple way to ensure safe diffusing is to avoid the cheap diffusers on the market, as well as diffusers that utilize heat or an open flame (and thus carry the risk of burns). If you want to opt for an extremely cheap diffuser that is still safe, perhaps look into a reed diffuser.
Clean Your Diffuser Regularly - A quality diffuser will come with guidelines about how to clean it, and how often. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even clean it between each scenting session. What’s most important, though, is to do a deep clean every once in a while to keep mold and bacteria at bay. This is particularly good advice if your diffuser uses or stores any kind of water. Try not to let stagnant water sit undiffused in the diffuser for multiple days at a time.
Opt for High Quality Oils - not all essential or aroma oils are created equal. Many manufacturers attempt to cut costs by using synthetic materials and filler ingredients. Avoid these, and opt for oils shown to be 100% natural, pure and safe.
Much has been written on whether scent diffusers are safe for pets. In short, while there are some risks surrounding pets and essential oils, most of these result from avoidable things like direct contact with the oil, or scenting oils known to be problematic for pets.
For general safety guidelines: never apply essential oils directly to your pet, and keep them out of reach of the pet. Avoid spills, or clean them up immediately, so that the dog does not sniff or lick the oils directly. If you want to be extra safe, you can make sure to scent a room only when your pet is not present in it.
If you’d like to read our full article on whether scent diffusers are safe for pets, you can check it out here.
Can scent really increase desire, romance, or intimacy? As we’ll soon see, modern science says it can. But before we look at some of the recent studies, let’s take a step back and consider the question logically.
Firstly - the perfume and cologne industry alone is a constantly growing, $30+ billion dollar market. One main appeal of scents such as these is that they can shift how a perceiving party (coworkers, a superior, the opposite sex) receives you emotionally. Consider how your own sense of a home, business, or individual has shifted based on scent alone, and you can start to see firsthand the potential scent has in shaping our emotions and perceptions.
Even more closely tied to romance and desire are the impact and function of pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals our bodies secrete (mainly through sweat) which can impact the behavior of receiving individuals. Pheromones are mainly perceived by the olfactory system - our sense of smell.
Jasmine - This tropical floral fragrance has been shown to increase libido in modern studies. Jasmine is simultaneously sweet and pleasantly musky. In the ancient world, it was highly sought after, and a symbol of sexuality.
Blue Lotus - Another floral scent, Blue Lotus has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years for its aphrodisiac and calming effects. The prized flower is native to Egypt - where ancient murals and papyrus scrolls detail its link with romance, intimacy, and desire.
Sandalwood - Sandalwood has been shown to boost physiological and self-rated arousal in humans, says one 2006 study. This is not only connected to sexual arousal, but a variety of other beneficial qualities: “alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation and vigor.” One theory as to why fragrances with “woody” base notes like Sandalwood (or Agarwood, noted below) may elicit such strong aphrodisiac reactions is because they may stimulate hormone receptors.
Agarwood/Oud - Agarwood is one of the most time-tested ancient scents, having been connected with spirituality and sensuality for thousands of years. For this reason, however, it comes with a hefty price tag (assuming the agarwood/oud is of good quality). It is one of the most expensive raw materials in the world.
Love Affair - Combining our favorite aspects of the woody and floral romance scents,Love Affairis a beautiful amalgamation of some of the most luxurious aphrodisiac ingredients. Floral notes of jasmine and saffron contrast perfectly with woody tones of cedarwood.
Incense, reed diffusers, electric diffusers - there are so many options when it comes to deciding how to diffuse your romantic scent of choice. We recommend cold-air, nebulizing diffusers as the safest, lowest-maintenance, and highest quality scenting experience.
Our diffusers allow you to fine tune your ideal fragrance level, and scent your entire space efficiently. Using only cold air nebulizing technology, they bypass all of the safety concerns connected with heat or water powered diffusers.
You can read more about cold-air diffusion technology and check out our nebulizing diffusers here.
]]>While there are a few safety concerns which we’ll get into below, as long as you’re using a high quality diffuser and high quality essential oils, there’s likely no problem with sleeping with your diffuser on overnight.
However, there are a few precautions you can take to make sure you’re diffusing oils overnight as safely as possible. We reveal these precautions below, and also address some of the concerns people have with sleeping with a diffuser on overnight.
The concern most people have with leaving their diffuser running overnight is that it may result in a kind of “overexposure” to essential oils. If you’re concerned about this, there are a few simple precautions to eliminate the chance of this altogether.
The easiest solution would be to purchase a diffuser that has a built in “auto shutoff” feature, wherein the diffuser shuts down and stops diffusing after a certain time, or period of time. Our ArominiBT models allow you to set a diffusion schedule from your phone. Once the selected time is reached, the diffuser powers down and stops diffusing automatically. So if you fall asleep around 10:30, you could simply program your diffuser to diffuse between 9:30-10:30 PM.
If you already own a diffuser, another solution would be to scent your bedroom for about 30 minutes before you plan on falling asleep, and then turn it off when you turn in for the night. If the diffuser and oil are of high quality, then they should still linger for a while in the room as you’re falling asleep, all without you having to actively run your diffuser.
Another common concern is that diffusers can overheat, and perhaps be a fire hazard. This is really only a risk if you own a heat powered electric diffuser. Some people also use essential oil burners, which as a rule are always going to be riskier, since an open flame is involved.
If safety is a concern, we recommend cold-air, nebulizing diffusers. They bypass all the safety concerns of heat or water diffusers, using only cold air to diffuse your scent of choice. They also ensure the highest quality scenting experience.
As long as you’re using a high quality diffuser and high quality, all natural essential or aroma oils, there’s likely no risk to diffusing your oils overnight. However, if you’d like to take extra precautions, the easiest safety solution is to get a diffuser with an automatic shut off feature. Alternatively, you could scent your bedroom for about 30 minutes prior to when you plan to go to bed, and then turn your diffuser off before you get into bed for the night. Lastly, to ensure the safest and highest quality scenting experience, opt for a cold-air nebulizing diffuser, as they don’t rely on heat or water for diffusion.
]]>Relaxing likely looks different to everyone, but the general consensus is that for many of us, relaxing needs to be approached with intent - especially now, during a time when it has become so easy to be consumed, if not overwhelmed, by current affairs and other external factors that are beyond our control. Whether that means setting up an at-home spa treatment, curling up with an enticing book, or binge watching a brand new show, engaging in relaxation-motivated activities can be extremely beneficial to our mental health and well-being.
One thing that can enhance this overall experience, and can help transcend you to a state of ultimate relaxation is - you guessed it - scent. Did you know that our sense of smell influences roughly 75 percent of the moods and emotions we experience daily? What this tells us is that as we go about creating ambiances to settle into this calmer state, we should perhaps think twice about the fragrances we select to fill our spaces.
Using diffuser oils for relaxation
There are many benefits to using diffuser oils to achieve total relaxation, notably their ability to shape our mood and physical body. As mentioned, fragrance and our strong sense of smell, combined, can evoke deeply-held emotions and empower the mind to drift to far-off and potentially more tranquil places. As well, depending on our upbringing and lived experiences, certain scents may stir up precious and personal memories, allowing us to tap into headspaces that are both calming and familiar.
In order to best diffuse your oils for the purpose of creating a relaxing atmosphere, we suggest opting for diffusers that use nebulizing technology. This type of diffuser is exceptionally proficient at distributing a highly-concentrated fragrance across large areas, without compromising the integrity and intensity of the oil. For a household environment, the AromaTech Aromini BT is an effective, whisper-quiet option for medium-sized spaces, and can be placed in your bathroom to add to that at-home spa feeling, or perhaps in the living room as you settle down for a cozy read.
What diffuser oils to use for relaxation
If your goal is to recreate a soothing and tranquil environment within your home or living space, look no further than to scents that are rejuvenating, fresh, and calming.
Rejuvenating scents
The inclusion of citrus notes in an aroma can be incredibly uplifting, and can help stimulate the gratifying and refreshing feeling you might experience whilst drinking a cold beverage on a hot summer day, or as you settle down for a relaxing and stress-relieving spa treatment. If you enjoy the scent of citrus, you might like our White Tea aroma oil - a light and airy fragrance infused with notes of white tea, rose, zesty oranges, sweet geraniums, Palo Santos, and cedar wood. You might also enjoy our Zesty Champaca aroma oil, which is an enticing blend of lemongrass and freshly cut champaca leaves, infused with notes of rich cedar wood.
Fresh scents
Sourced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, neroli oil has been used as a key ingredient in perfumery (like an eau de cologne) for centuries. Known for its ability to help people stay refreshed and relaxed in balmy temperatures, neroli’s sweet floral notes will breathe life and lustre into your home during any season. Wind down from the activities of the day with a good book in your hands and our Fresh Air aroma oil in your diffuser - a crisp and bright scent that incorporates hints of sandalwood, tea leaves, ivy, cardamom, ginger, and citrus bergamot.
Calming scents
Renowned for its calming and wellness properties, lavender is celebrated for its effect on reducing stress, curbing anxiety, and even minimizing instances of pain. Whether you need to let loose after a chaotic day or are simply striving to achieve a mental and physical state of equilibrium, you will be positively surprised by how impactful the subtle smell of lavender can be. Add a few droplets of our Lavender Vanilla aroma oil into your diffuser - an inviting blend of fresh lavender, creamy vanilla, geranium, and maple leaves - and settle into that new film that you have been meaning to catch up on. Perhaps you might also enjoy our Lavender Linen aroma oil, which combines notes of bergamot with purple lavender, complemented by a touch of Egyptian cotton, green eucalyptus leaves, crisp neroli, and patchouli.
How to make your home feel like a hotel
For our fellow travel enthusiasts who, unfortunately, are not doing much traveling right now, your ideal scenario for relaxation might be to recreate that hotel feeling and sense of wanderlust through deliberate home scenting.
Locate your lasting memories of that glamorous hotel you stayed at during a special vacation, and relive the memories you created during that time. Even the simple thought of the citrus-infused cocktail you sipped on, or the reverberating bass as you danced the night away, can be revived with scent, recreating the very personal emotions you felt - and will feel again one day - throughout your travels. If you like the sound of red rose, geranium, and lavender, coupled with the revitalizing smell of eucalyptus and fresh pine, The Hotel aroma oil might be the perfect choice to help you jumpstart a few much-needed moments of relaxation.
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