You’re brunching with gal pals when suddenly, the scent of cinnamon and maple syrup from your french toast takes you back to the carefree Sunday mornings of your childhood and right then you find yourself grinning, and your friends are wondering what's in that french toast.

Scent has a major impact on memory, and it can sometimes be subtle, or vividly specific. 

The science that links the two is well documented, and is set within the intricacies of our own brain’s anatomy. 

Smells are processed through the olfactory bulb, which is connected to two areas that are directly impacted by memory and emotion called the amygdala and hippocampus. 

These areas of the brain do not process impulses brought on by sight, sound, or touch, which is why they have a stronger link to emotions and memories than that of visual cues.  

Just as a scent can take you back to a specific moment in time, it can also take you back to a specific emotional response, this is why aromatherapy is so powerful.

Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant essential oils that are known to enhance a feeling of well-being and evoke positive emotions, such as lavender and sandalwood for relaxation and calming the mind and citrus for fighting symptoms of depression and for energizing the mind and body. Repetition helps to strengthen this.

The principles of aromatherapy, and the mindful values behind the creation of clean, conscious, non- toxic fragrances and the use of rituals are the key aspects underlying the fragrances at Ascention. When you do something consistently for 21 days, it forms a habit.  After 30-90 days, it becomes a behavioral change.

When you create a ritual that combines scent with emotion, experiencing the scent triggers that emotional response.  It’s a way to actually train your brain to experience an emotion that then becomes accessible to you whenever you need it most.  And we know those times when we do. At least we now have something to help us re-root our mind to remember our intentions and keep going. 

Learn more about how our products work here.