It’s National Fragrance Week, and I’m personally excited to celebrate all things olfactory. Not to sound too geeky but your sense of smell is incredible. According to a study performed by Rockefeller University in 1999, humans only remember 5% of things that they’ve seen, 2% of things they’ve heard, and just 1% of things they’ve touched. But we remember an astounding 35% of the things we’ve smelled.
That’s right, you’re 700% more likely to remember a distinct smell than a person’s face or the color of a dress. And, as surprising as this may be, consider the significant role that scents and fragrances play in creating atmosphere and ambience in any given space. From hospitals to classrooms, and from boardrooms to bedrooms, we associate different places, times, and people in our lives with specific smells. If your grandmother used lavender-scented skin cream, you likely associate that smell with love, affection, warmth, and safety. The smell of sea salt and tropical fruits could harken back to a romantic evening walking on the beach on your honeymoon. Your sense of smell is keener than you know, and the right fragrance can make all the difference in enhancing your mood at home, work, or anywhere else.
The wonderful thing about the power of smell is that you can use it to set the mood and bring desired emotions into any environment. From body oils and perfumes to candles and room sprays, you have more control than you may know over how people feel when you enter a room, or when they visit your home or walk into your office.
1. Elevate your morning mood with a sugar scrub and body oil
Like most of us, I like starting my day with a quick refreshing shower. I find it to be a great way to reset and wake to the day, but I noticed something recently. Almost every morning, I was just going through the motions. Instead of taking full advantage of this little bit of me-time, I would literally lather-rinse-repeat before scrambling through the rest of my hectic morning routine. I realized that I was missing an opportunity to boost my mood and enhance my skincare routine.
For me, starting the day in a good mood is all about taking care of myself, and that means taking care of my skin. I’ve had extremely dry skin as far back as I can remember. I’ve been using body products to fight it since I was barely a tween, and my mom even gave me a tablespoon of cod liver oil every morning. This was before it came in convenient (and much more palatable!) gel caps – I can still taste it! Those early memories and years of frustration taught me a lot about how the condition of my skin can impact my mood. All of my trial-and-error and deep research taught me that I needed a good exfoliator as much as I needed an effective moisturizer.
If you have dry skin like me, it’s important to exfoliate regularly to enable your moisturizer to absorb effectively into your skin. Unfortunately, so many soaps and exfoliating products contain inflammatory ingredients that can cause flare-ups for those of us with autoimmune disease and other sensitivities. That’s why Ali and I created our sugar scrubs and body oils to provide a product that’s clean, effective, and smells incredible – which brings us back to getting the most out of your morning shower!
Now, I start my day with my favorite sugar scrub in the shower, and I take a moment to apply soothing, moisturizing body oil after I dry off. It’s a simple change to my usual lather-rinse-repeat shower routine, but it does wonders for my mood. When you start your day with a refreshing sugar scrub and revitalizing body oil application, you’ll feel good in more ways than one. You’ll love the way your body feels. The scent will enhance your mood and help you feel refreshed for the day. Plus, you’ll feel good about the natural, healthy products you’re using to improve your mood, your skin, and your day.
2. Enhance your mood throughout the day with eau de parfum, perfume oil, or body spray
Once I’ve started the day on the right foot with a little scented self-care during (and after) my shower, I like to keep it going with a fragrance that will stay with me all day. There’s a lot of stigma around perfumes, and women often avoid them because they’re afraid of heavy, intrusive smells – especially if they work closely with others. Trust me, I know the feeling! A lot of artificial scents and fragrances can trigger flare-ups for me, and I know that a lot of our customers have the same experience.
That’s why I love a light, natural fragrance that feels like an extension of myself and my personal brand. Our multi-note scents have a balanced profile with natural essences that deliver a sophistication that I absolutely love. But, of course, when it comes to all-day fragrances, you have options. Should you go with an eau de parfum, a body spray, or a perfume oil? I use all three, depending on my mood and where I’m headed for the day (or evening). Here are my tips for the best product for the occasion or environment:
Add a little luxury to your day with an Eau de Parfum
Eau de parfums are considered one of the most luxurious fragrance types. While ours are light and not overpowering, they have a high concentration of fragrance oil and are made to last all day without transferring to anyone else or giving your coworkers (or you) a headache.
Enjoy your signature scent all day with one of our body sprays
When I know I’ll be out and about all day with no chance to reapply fragrance, I often choose one of our body sprays. I select the body spray that best fits my mood and aspirations for the day, and then I use it on a few key pulse points to enjoy a noticeable but light fresh scent that lasts for hours. Pro tip: You probably already know to focus on places like your inner wrists, neck, and behind the ears, but don’t forget other parts on other key pulse points, like the insides of your elbows and behind your knees.
Boost your mood on the go with perfume oil
If I have a long day ahead of me, I like to carry one of our perfume oils with me. These compact roll-on applicators fit easily in my purse, and they’re just the thing for a quick fragrance pick-me-up when the day starts to drag or when I want to ensure that I’m putting my best self (and scent) forward.
3. Energize any environment with the Urthy Scent Tower
You might have noticed that I put a lot of time and thought into enhancing our customers’ lives and homes with fragrance. I’m especially excited about this mood-elevating tool that’s perfect for almost any space. The Urthy Scent Tower provides a simple, sleek way to add your favorite scent to your environment.
Using air rather than water, the Urthy Scent Tower quietly distributes our lingering natural-smelling scents to bring the scent journey to you. With different strength options, it allows you to increase or decrease the intensity of aromas to match the space and your mood. Plus, it’s compact, stylish, and portable, and you can change scents easily by switching between different refill bottles. It’s pretty amazing and simple to use!
Explore all the ways to enhance your life with your favorite scents
The right scent – on your body or wafting through the air – can do amazing things for your mood and the moods of others. Our personal and home fragrances can turn any space into your happy place, and elevate the atmosphere in your home or office to reflect your personal brand. These are just a few of my favorite ways to set the mood in the environments where I live, work, and play. Follow Urthy Scents on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook for more of my favorite ideas and tips, as well as new products and offerings. And don’t forget to check back here for articles to help you enhance your life, health, and wellness.
~Jen