by Lora Marks
Travel opens the door to new experiences and perspectives, but the journey itself can test your cool. What if you could pack a simple tool to relieve those stresses and make the good times even better? Aromatherapy does just that. Essential oil products containing natural plant extracts can easily fit in your carry-on luggage and provide real support for your mind and body throughout your trip.
What is aromatherapy?
The Cleveland Clinic describes aromatherapy as “Use essential oils to improve your health or well-being.” Aromatherapy utilizes concentrated plant extracts to support your physical and mental health, according to the clinic. These extracts are called essential oils and come from flowers, leaves, roots and other plant parts.
According to the University of Pittsburgh, If you're feeling depressed, aromatherapy can help. When you inhale essential oils, their molecules enter your nose and stimulate your nervous system, sending messages to your brain that can affect your mood, stress levels, and even how your body feels.
There are many ways you can use essential oils while traveling. For quick relief, inhale directly from the bottle, or you can put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball. Some travelers also use a personal diffuser or apply diluted oils to pulse points for longer-lasting effects. Candles also contain essential oils.
The science behind smell, memory and emotions
Smell works differently than other senses. Sight and sound pass indirectly through the brain, while smell is directly connected to the limbic system. It's important for emotional processing, which is why one sniff can instantly transport you to childhood memories or change your mood.
According to research from the University of Pittsburgh, smell also plays a role because the olfactory nerve Acts directly on the amygdalawhich is connected to the part of the brain that releases chemicals that create feelings and are essential for memory. The nerves in the olfactory bulb that process smells directly activate the amygdala, which is how smells evoke specific memories. This explains why aromatherapy can impact your mental state quickly and powerfully.
For travelers, science can translate into real benefits, and aromatherapy comes into play when anxious thoughts are swirling in chaotic places like airports or crowded tourist attractions.
Build your essential oil travel kit
A personalized aromatherapy kit will transform your travel experience. Choose three to five essential oils to meet your specific needs, and you'll have a small collection that fits in your makeup bag and handles most challenges on the road.
Relieve common travel stress
Of all the essential oils you can carry, lavender deserves a spot in your bag. When the safety line feels overwhelming, or the unrest has your nerves on edge, taking a few deep breaths with lavender can calm you down and calm anxious thoughts.
Sleep also often suffers when you're in an unfamiliar bed and changing time zones, leaving you exhausted and moody. Using calming scents like lavender or chamomile as part of your bedtime routine can signal to your body that it's time to rest, and familiar scents can even help you fall asleep in a new environment.
Enhance your destination experience
Aromatherapy can do more than just deal with stress and sleep issues while traveling. Uplifting scents like orange or lemon can provide you with natural energy during a long day sightseeing, and a quick inhalation can lift your mood before exploring a new neighborhood.
Many travelers also suffer from motion sickness during their adventures. Peppermint or ginger essential oils can relieve fatigue without causing drowsiness, so keep them with you when driving, boating, or on winding mountain drives. Keeping a small rollerball bottle in your everyday bag means you're always prepared.
How to use aromatherapy safely while traveling
Natural doesn't mean risk-free, especially when it comes to essential oils that pack powerful plant compounds into small bottles. Never apply them directly to the skin as high concentrations may cause irritation, redness and allergic reactions.
As the National Capital Poison Center points out, Essential oils can be toxic if used incorrectly. According to the center, safe use starts with diluting them with a carrier oil before applying them topically. This will reduce the concentration to a level that your skin can tolerate. Most blends work best with one to two drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil.
Before using a new oil blend on the go, apply a small amount of the blend to the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours before patch testing. It’s better to discover a skin reaction or allergy at home than away from your usual products and daily activities.
Create lasting scent memories
The connection of scent to memory provides a unique gift to travelers. Choose a new essential oil or blend specifically for your trip—something you've never used before to create a fresh sensory association.
Use the scent of your choice during the most meaningful moments on your trip. You can inhale it while watching the sunset, exploring a beautiful garden, or enjoying a peaceful morning, allowing your brain to associate the scent with these positive experiences.
When you get home, this smell becomes your gateway to your vacation. A single inhale can transport you mentally back to those precious moments, allowing you to relive the emotional warmth and relaxation you felt during your journey.
Carry aromatherapy products with you
Aromatherapy products can transform travel from potentially stressful to truly rejuvenating. With these simple plant extracts, you can stay healthy anytime, anywhere. Pack your essential oils with your passport and discover how scents can transform your next trip into a true wellness journey.
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Lola Marks is the author of ” body+mind
