Wow! The difference between last week and this weekend is profound! We had some very hot weather recently. It was the type of damp heat that makes the air feel thick and the hours drag by. But night before last we had a weather shift.
I stepped outside and was hit by the most amazing difference in the air.
The oppressive heat was gone, replaced by a cooler current carrying the scent of warm, freshly turned soil and oncoming moisture. Mingled with it was the subtle aroma of sun-warmed Douglas Firs and White Pines, releasing their terpenes into the quickly cooling night.
Connect with Nature: Inhale Terpenes!
Terpenes are the chemical constituents we associate with conifer essential oils, particularly those distilled from pines and firs.
Evergreens and other plants naturally release terpenes as part of their communication and chemical defense systems. They are the basis for shinrin-yoku, or the Japanese practice of forest bathing. (More on Forest Bathing)
Terpenes interact with our biochemistry, lowering cortisol levels and calming the nervous system. This is what makes conifer essential oils so effective at relieving stress.
Hardwired to Connect with Nature
While we think of aromatherapy as a structured practice involving glass bottles and diffusers, the most ancient forms of aromatherapy are around us every day. We find it in the smell of the ocean, damp soil, ripe fruits and vegetables, cut grass.
Our brains are actually hardwired to connect with Nature. For the vast majority of human history, our survival depended entirely on our ability to read environmental cues. Our sense of smell became our most direct link to the earth.
When we smell incoming rain, we’re detecting geosmin, an organic compound released by soil microbes when moisture hits dry earth. It’s the primary contributing odor in petrichor. Human noses are incredibly sensitive to geosmin, able to detect it at just a few parts per trillion. To early humans, catching geosmin on the air meant finding water and fertile land. It meant survival.[1]
While detecting geosmin is no longer necessary for our survival, inhaling it causes us to naturally breathe deeper. Add to that the terpene-rich scent of evergreens on the air and you have a perfect stress relief aroma.
It’s Nature’s purest form of aromatherapy!
Finding Aromatherapy in Nature
My experience of the weather shift was a reminder that resetting my mood doesn’t require complex aromatherapy blends. It can be as simple as stepping outside, enjoying the Summer rain on my face, and breathing in the clean smell of geosmin.
Country singer and songwriter, Roger Miller, once said, “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” (It’s the quote I share in this MOP video.)
I choose to feel the rain. To embrace the hardships put before me and learn from them. To be fully and mindfully present in each moment. To connect with Nature and appreciate the aromatherapy present in the world around me.
Which person are you?
References
- Campbell, H. (2018). Geosmin: Why we like the smell of air after a storm. American Council on Science and Health. Retrieved from https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/07/28/geosmin-why-we-smell-air-after-storm-13240
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Christine Pressler | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Christine is an avid reader, writer, lifetime learner, and proponent of self-care for better mental health and energy. She enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen.💚 (Learn more >>)
