Stop and smell the roses isn’t just rote advice. Since the time of Hippocrates, the connection between wellbeing and scent has been appreciated by experts and common folk alike. One might point to the 1970s as the origin of our current thinking around the healing and relaxing properties of scent. The rise of alternative medicine during that time and its enduring legacy are hardly ever evoked without the smell of patchouli. And who hasn’t walked into a spa, smelled that earthy, herbal concoction, and breathed a sigh of relief? 😮💨
These days, when our homes are full of scented candles, room sprays, diffusers, and incense, not to mention scented body products, talk amongst the wellness community has turned its attention to the potential hazards of scented products.
I’m a lover of scents, so going fully unscented from the skincare routine in my bathroom to the rest of my home is simply a bridge too far. I decided to dig into the science behind what makes scented products work to weigh the benefits of scent’s simple pleasure against the potential hazards. For this, I reached out to natural and nontoxic brands making scented products, as well as a functional medicine doctor, to get her take on having a healthy relationship with scented products.
First, how does scent support wellbeing?
Anyone who enjoys the scent of a bouquet or taking in the smell of cinnamon dusted on their cappuccino can tell you that a smell can enrich your life. Practitioners of mindfulness use smell as part of grounding practices that can bring one into the present moment. And the hard sciences of neuropsychology and brain science have also discovered the strong connection between olfactory capacity and overall health.
Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, board-certified family physician and the lead functional medicine physician at Love.Life explains her perspective: “As a functional medicine physician, I view scent as a powerful way to influence both the body and the mind.”
“As a functional medicine physician, I view scent as a powerful way to influence both the body and the mind.” – Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino
“Aromatherapy has been shown to impact the nervous system, shifting us toward a more parasympathetic, restorative state. Scents can trigger memory, regulate mood, and even influence physiological responses like heart rate or cortisol levels. While it’s not a cure-all, thoughtfully chosen natural scents can be a supportive tool in creating calm, focus, or emotional grounding.”
I also spoke to Jessica Bragdon, co-founder of Koala Eco, a plant-based brand making clean products for home and body. She has a masters in organisational psychology, and her fascination with the intersection of human behaviour, wellbeing, and the environments that shape us was a driving force in the creation of her brand. She explains, “Scent links our inner worlds to the natural world around us.”
“Scent is neurologically unique: It has a direct pathway to the limbic system, which governs memory, mood, and emotion. In practice, this means that something as simple as the aroma of eucalyptus can trigger both a physiological calming response and an emotional sense of clarity. From an eco-psychological perspective, these responses matter because they remind us that our wellbeing is inseparable from our relationship with nature.”
How are natural scents made?
Scents, especially those that are naturally derived, connect us to the earth — but what toll does the creation of scent take on the natural world? While natural scents can come in the form of botanical extracts, resins, or isolates from plants, their primary source is essential oils. You’re likely familiar with the tiny glass bottles that often carry them in your local health food store — and if you’re anything like me, you’ve never really thought about how they were made.
“Scent links our inner worlds to the natural world around us.” – Jessica Bragdon, co-founder of Koala Eco
Depending on the scent that is being extracted, essential oils are made through a process of steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction which uses chemicals to draw out the scent of the most delicate flowers. The process of creating essential oils, unfortunately, requires a lot of raw plant matter, and much of the byproduct is discarded without being put to further use. The cycle of producing these oils can lead to overfarming, high demands for labor, and lots of energy use.
Koala Eco uses essential oils in their products — and the home-grown environmentalism of the culture in Australia has led them to thoughtfully source their oils.
Bragdon explains, “Sourcing oils is one of the most important choices we make, because the integrity of a scent depends on the integrity of the ecosystem it comes from. We work with Australian growers and distillers. The oils from this landscape carry extraordinary potency, but supporting local producers also ensures that the communities and environments from which these botanicals are drawn remain resilient.”
Bragdon thinks of this in terms of an ecological systems approach: “The therapeutic benefits we experience at home are directly linked to the sustainability of the land where the plant grew. Transparency and traceability are essential. For me, it’s about honoring the journey of the oil — from seedling to still to finished product.”
What are the health concerns when it comes to scented products for body and home?
Experts generally agree that synthetic scents should be avoided. The Environmental Working Group reports that most perfume scents are either created from the fragrance industry’s library of over 3,000 synthetic chemicals or derived from petroleum. Because our skin can absorb much of what we apply to it, these hidden ingredients may cause irritation or even pose long-term health risks. Many of these substances are tucked under the vague label “fragrance” — which can include phthalates, known endocrine disruptors. While not every product listing “fragrance” is unsafe, it’s important to look at a brand’s standards and transparency to understand what you’re really using.
Dr. Tolentino explains, “I do have concerns about many conventional scented products. Synthetic fragrances, poorly made candles, or incense can emit VOCs, formaldehyde, and smoke byproducts that act as endocrine disruptors or irritants, especially in enclosed spaces.”
“The key is being intentional — choosing products that enhance wellbeing without adding unnecessary toxic burden to your environment.” – Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino
But, even with natural scents in your home and skincare, there are potentially disruptive elements. There are a handful of natural essential oils that have been shown to have potentially disruptive effects on the endocrine system including lavender oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, and ylang-ylang oil. And, as Dr. Tolentino notes, it isn’t just the scent that you should pay attention to. With candles, you’ll also want to pay attention to the wax and the wick so you can opt for a natural substrate rather than paraffin wax. And even then, the smoke of candles can affect the air quality in your home. (If you’re wondering where incense fits in, they can generate four times the harmful particulate matter of a cigarette during burning, along with additional poisonous gases.)
“To balance benefits with safety,” says Dr. Tolentino, “I recommend sticking with clean, naturally derived essential oils in a diffuser, beeswax or coconut wax candles with organic cotton wicks, and ensuring good ventilation. The key is being intentional — choosing products that enhance wellbeing without adding unnecessary toxic burden to your environment.”
Intentionality is key — especially given the reality that the burning of candles is minor compared to that of cooking a meal on the stove. While home cooking is an essential, and contributes to your overall wellbeing in a meaningful way, it might be easier to opt out of burning a candle. More often than not, engaging with scented products involves taking all of these factors into account and deciding what is worth it for you. Of course, there are also ways to minimize the potentially harmful effects of scented products.
How you can safely use scent:
- Always check the ingredients used in your products — from lotions and perfumes to candles — and also look into the brand story and ethos. While much of this world is unregulated, brands with the most trustworthy practices will be transparent about their process.
- Opt for unscented products where it feels possible for you. For instance, you might want to go for an unscented lotion, and then layer on a natural perfume, to minimize the environmental and health impacts.
- Use an all-natural method like creating a scent bath on your stovetop or in a crockpot by boiling orange rind, clove, cinnamon, and rosemary. Or buy a bouquet of flowers or dried herbs from the farmers’ market.
- If you do want to burn candles, take advantage of candle warmers to limit your exposure to smoke while still enjoying candles with natural ingredients. Running an air purifier can be a good idea too.
With scent, as with so many things in our modern lives, achieving a sense of balance through informed decision-making is the most prudent path forward. Mindfully approaching where and why you take advantage of scented products in your life can contribute to your overall wellness — and to a feeling of connection with the earth.
Do you have practices that involve scent that enhance your daily life? Or questions about the safe use of scented products? Let us know in the comments to keep the conversation going!
Ashley D’Arcy is the Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She holds an MA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and has contributed to esteemed outlets such as The Nation, 032c, and Yale School of Management’s Insights where she’s leveraged her expertise in making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to her editorial work, she is training as a psychoanalytic mental health professional and provides care to patients in New York City. Ashley also explores sustainable fashion, clean beauty, and wellness trends, combining thoughtful cultural critiques with a commitment to mindful living.
The post We Explore The Science Of Scent And Wellbeing appeared first on The Good Trade.
