The use of scents and getting rid of unpleasant odors
Smells have a powerful effect on our subconscious mind and, as a result, on our wellbeing, emotions, and mood. The secret of this lies in the direct connection between the olfactory organ and the limbic system. This evolved before the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for rational thinking. The limbic system generates emotions. Currently, many scientists consider it to be the central part of the brain that it is able to make decisions before they have time to appear in our conscious minds. At the same time however, we may feel as though we have made the decision rationally.
We are not indifferent to what we inhale, even if we are not aware of it, and do not notice the smell itself. Moreover, this process can be managed by creating a favorable atmosphere at work and at home.
How do we use scents?
- ⚈ Fragrances for body care
- Hygiene products (shower gels, soaps, shampoos, bubble baths)
- Perfume (perfume, eau de toilette, body mist)
- ⚈ Scents for improving health and achieving certain goals (scented oils for pain relief, improving performance and cognitive abilities, such as memory)
- ⚈ Scents for home and public spaces, cars (scents, candles, incense)
- ⚈ Food flavors (natural spices and other additives, flavor combination of certain products)
- ⚈ “Hedonistic " aromas (the smell of cigarettes, cigars or tobacco, alcoholic beverages - whiskey, cognac, wine)
Products from each of these groups can be divided into those created industrially and those created manually.
The first thing you need to pay attention to when you are using any scents is their quality, or rather the quality of the ingredients used to produce them. Their effectiveness will depend on it.
The next point is the relevance of scents and their concentration. The most striking example is the excessive use of perfume at the wrong time and in the wrong place. The same applies to the practical use of aroma oils in aromatherapy.
The taste and evaluation of food depend on the individual. Odor perception forms up to 80% of the taste sensations from food and drink. As a result, incorrectly selected spices and products can lead to a culinary disaster. Fortunately, it is no longer a big problem to find information on successful combinations of ingredients, or to choose appropriate recipes for anyone’s tastes.
Individual tolerance and intolerance of scents applies to all groups, and it is often difficult to determine what plays the central role here; the physiology or psychology of an individual.
How to get rid of unpleasant odors
If you are troubled by an unpleasant odor, you need to determine the source of the smell and try to get rid of it. Masking the smell will help to solve the problem, but only temporarily.
Unpleasant odors can be categorized according to source, thereby determining how to deal with it.
- ⚈ Odors released by the human body or animals
- Natural (individual body odor formed from a mixture of more than 300 components)
- Odors caused by the disease (e.g. a noticeable smell from the mouth or the surface of the skin or, smells resulting from increased sweating or intestinal gas)
- ⚈ Smells from the world around us
- Household smells (mold, furniture, dust, food, pets, tobacco etc.)
- Industrial and specialized areas (smells from factories, ports, zoos, cattle yards, cultivated fields etc.)
- Transport (exhaust gases)
- Nature (e.g. the smell of rotting seaweed on the seashore, swamp mud or slime, smoke etc.)
Natural body odors are most easily controlled by personal hygiene and daily care.
It is almost useless to fight odors caused by the disease if the main health problems are not solved however. In some “mild” cases, such as bad breath and flatulence, correction is possible with oral care, diet, and exercise. In cases stemming from disease (e.g. with diabetes, has occasionally been noted to produce the smell of acetone) it is of course, necessary to fully treat the illness and maintain the body in a healthy state.
When faced with odors in residential areas, the first thing to do is to determine the source. Sometimes, this is straightforward. For example, mold occurs in poorly ventilated rooms with high humidity, so the root cause would have to be addressed by ensuring ventilation and using a dehumidifier. If a cat leaves a scent however, it does not always signify a claim on the territory. It could simply mean that the cat is stressed. So, a range of possible solutions might be required.
The second stage is to clean the house with natural products such as baking soda, lemon juice vinegar, or to use special cleaning products, which may be designed for specific odours. In particularly difficult situations, specialists from cleaning companies can be invited.
The third stage can be the aromatization of premises with incense, aerosols, scented candles or aroma lamps. If you skip the first two stages though, this masking of the smell will only provide a temporary solution.
Odors from industry and agriculture are difficult to eliminate on a domestic level (especially if you live in close proximity to their source). Although often impractical on a small scale, technological solutions are available, such as ventilation and filtration systems. Keeping a certain distance between residential and industrial/farming areas can solve the problem as well. The same applies to transport.
Where natural odors that enter the eliminate the root causes might involve extinguishing fires or draining swampy areas etc.
See also:
Sense of smell and scents | Consumer culture of scents | Social and cultural functions of the sense of smell and smells