The Truth About Aromatherapy: Science-Backed Scent

If you’re anything like us, you enjoy aromatherapy—the sweet, herbaceous scent of lavender that calms, the fresh, cool scent of peppermint that awakens, the bright, citrus scent of bergamot that uplifts. But, all too often, aromatherapy is dismissed as a new-age trend.

More than just pleasant scents

Aromatherapy is more than just a new-age trend or pleasant scents. It’s an age-old practice now validated by modern science, from laboratory studies and clinical trials to phytochemical analysis, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics—a mouthful, we know.

Extracted from rich botanicals, pure essential oils (like the aforementioned lavender, peppermint and bergamot) engage directly with our nervous system through inhalation. Scent molecules travel directly through the nerves in the nose to the brain, triggering neurotransmitters that target the amygdala—the emotional center of the brain—to regulate our nervous system.

So, when our sympathetic nervous system (our fight-or-flight response) is triggered, scent has the power to switch us to our parasympathetic nervous system (our rest-and-digest response), calming body, mind and soul.

And it’s been measured by science.

For example, in “Lavender and the Nervous System”—a landmark study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine—authors Koulivand, Ghadiri and Gorji show how lavender oil can induce and improve sleep, relieve anxiety, and even show its potential in treating neurological disorders.

Rewire your response to stress

At L’Beauxtique, our essential oil blends are formulated by a Clinical Aromatherapist to balance the synergies of each scent—and your biochemistry.

Known for our Evening Body Serum and Evening Aromatherapy Candle, we formulated our signature scent on the science of aromatherapy, creating an immersive, sensual experience that deactivates your default fight-or-flight reaction and activates your rest-and-digest response.

By regulating the nervous system, our formula helps us rewire our response to stress, both physically and mentally.

So, whenever you feel stressed, react, pause, then respond—mindfully, intentionally, and therapeutically with essential oils.

If you’d like to learn more about the science, history and scent notes of our signature essential oils, visit our Ingredient Library—or try our Evening Body Serum for yourself.

ABOUT L’BEAUXTIQUE

If you haven’t met us yet, we’re L’Beauxtique. Founded by a Certified Professional Aromatherapist, and formulated by a Clinical Aromatherapist, our science-backed functional scents calm body, mind and soul—because twenty-first-century life doesn’t.