A scent catches the air and captures your attention. Suddenly, you’re transported back in time to a place where you felt loved, secure and happy.

Whether it’s the smell of warm apple pie baking in an oven or fresh lavender that reminds you of your grandmother’s garden, just about everyone has had this back-in-time experience. The sense of smell is one of the most strongly linked to memory. It’s also known for its ability to impact moods and even overall health. Some scents can, in fact, have very definitive impacts on the body and health.

These are the principles that guide aromatherapy. Using essential oils, which are generally derived from plants, and other olfactory-pleasing agents, aromatherapy seeks to put people in a better state of mind by relaxing their minds, bodies and spirits. This practice can work in a number of ways, but is commonly driven by the use of diffusers that release specific scents into the air to create a certain mood or feeling. It is also not uncommon to find aromatherapy scents in candles, body lotions, air fresheners and other similar items.

Some of the more common essential oils employed in aromatherapy and their specific uses include:

• Basil – This scent is known to be very simulating and can elevate moods. It’s known to help people battle illnesses like respiratory infections, fatigue and headaches.
• Chamomile – This scent is known for its relaxing properties. It can help ease headaches, digestive problems and even take the bite out of tension.
• Eucalyptus – This stimulating scent has long been recognized for its ability to help lessen headaches and ease the pain associated with sinus problems.
• Ginger – This spicy scent is known for having a positive influence on moods and attitudes. It can also help simulate a person and ease symptoms of depression and a host of other conditions.
• Jasmine – The beautiful floral scent of jasmine is loved by perfume makers for a reason. Not only is it pleasing to the senses, but it also sooths and relaxes. It is used for easing tension, coughs and headaches, among other things.
• Lavender – This sweet floral scent is considered highly therapeutic and quite calming for the mind. It ease anxiety, tension and even headaches and respiratory complaints.
• Peppermint – This is a refreshing scent that can wake up the body and stimulate the mind. It’s also commonly used to assist with cold-related complaints, headaches and sinus problems.

If you’ve ever been taken back in time thanks to a scent capturing your mind and memory, you understand the power of aromatherapy. When its principles are worked into everyday life, you can use it to your advantage to relax, reinvigorate and energize.