Lavender fields in England, from my last trip.

One of the things that soothes me, especially when tired & trying to fall asleep, is aromatherapy. Certain scents, like lavender, bergamot, sandalwood, & even rosemary, literally relax me from head to toe when I experience their aromatic aura. The quiet, the memories, the emotional imprint of each favored scent provides me with a sense of comfort & love.

These days, that’s a valuable thing, such deep relaxation when feeling stressed. Who can truly assign a price for that elusive gift of freedom from fretting & immense responsibility? I don’t know. Let me know when you find out, please? But familiar scents that remind me of family, friends, even love, make my heart soar & bring me inner peace.

The fragrant allure of lavender envelopes you in fields or pocket gardens.

When I was little, I’d pour perfume on my favorite stuffed bunny’s nose (I still have Bunny, a Zayre’s special back in the day) & I’d fall asleep sniffing that dreamy scent. It’s still that way. Fragrance soothes me when I’m looking to sleep. A lotion or sheet freshener, even a bath, triggers the memory of my mother making sure I was squeaky clean before calling it to night as a child.

In 2012, I purchased some lavender gel from the farm you see pictured in this post. During the flight home from England, dabs on my wrists and neck relaxed me enough to fall asleep on the plane, a true rarity. (Mind you, I practically never sleep on a plane or during daylight hours.)

Rows of lavender.

All this to say, if you’re an introvert like me who can feel stressed during a workday or in an intense situation, perhaps revisiting scents that tie to positive memories could provide some respite.

If worried about chemicals, essential oils can provide a natural homeopathic remedy to ease tension & tightness. Try different scents & see if any help as another strategy for introducing calmness & serenity back into your days.

Fields of gold & violet. Such rich fragrance.