🌿 "Scents of Wellness: Unlocking the Power of Essential Oils"

A Clinician’s Guide to Scents, Emotions & Essential Oils

“Healing doesn’t always begin with words. Sometimes, it begins with a breath.”

In the quiet of a therapy room, healing can begin with a simple breath.

Aromatherapy can be used during clinical sessions as an additive to enhance emotional balance, ease anxiety, and support mental clarity. Aromatherapy is more than just a relaxing luxury or additive to various methods of intervention. These scents have a measurable impact on our limbic system. The limbic system is a part of the brain that is involved in emotion, behavior, and memory.

🧠 Scents, the Brain, and Emotional Regulation

According to research published in the American Psychological Association (APA) journals, olfactory stimulation, i.e., the sense of smell, has direct access to brain regions like the amygdala and hippocampus, which are responsible for emotional regulation and memory processing. This makes scents a powerful gateway into both conscious reflection and unconscious processing (Herz, 2009, Behavioral Neuroscience).

In recent years, behavioral health professionals have begun to thoughtfully integrate aromatherapy into clinical settings as a complementary tool in evidence-based interventions such as CBT, mindfulness-based therapies, and guided imagery. When used intentionally, essential oils can enhance relaxation, support emotional regulation, and promote a sense of safety and self-awareness during treatment.

(PLEASE NOTE) Informed Use: Always Ask First

At RBHCS, we uphold a trauma-informed and client-centered philosophy. Because certain smells can unintentionally trigger traumatic memories, it is always good practice to ask for informed consent before incorporating any aroma into a session. Clients are invited to participate in choosing their preferred scent and, when interested, may even learn how to create their own personalized essential oil blend as part of their therapeutic process.

When and How We Use Aromatherapy in Therapy

Aromatherapy is offered as an additive intervention, often paired with:

Guided imagery, Mindfulness meditation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing, Breathwork and grounding techniques, Creative expression (e.g., journaling, art therapy, Trauma-informed relaxation techniques, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups, Behavioral activation, Emotional regulation practices, and Sensorimotor therapy

How Aromatherapy Works in Behavioral Health Interventions

Aromatherapy can be used as a complementary tool in many therapeutic methods:

1. Guided Imagery + Scent Cues

Scents anchor the imagery process, making it easier for clients to connect with calming visualizations.

2. CBT Relaxation Techniques

Used during progressive muscle relaxation or diaphragmatic breathing to deepen calm.

3. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

The scent becomes a “present moment anchor,” enhancing non-judgmental awareness.

4. DBT Distress Tolerance Skills

Scent is used in the “Self-Soothing” skill set, which falls under the category of the five senses.

5. Trauma-Informed Sensory Modulation

For clients with PTSD or dissociative symptoms, select scents can help orient them to safety.

6. Art or Expressive Therapy

Clients use scent as inspiration for drawing or writing, linking inner experiences to outer expression.

7. Somatic Experiencing

Aromatherapy enhances body awareness and provides calming feedback to the nervous system.

🌸 The Psychology of Scents: 15 Essential Oils That Support Mental & Emotional Health

Here’s a clinically informed guide to the most commonly used herbal and floral scents in therapy and their associated psychological benefits:

Essential Oil / Scent Emotional & Mental Health Benefits

Lavender - Reduces anxiety and promotes calm, aiding in sleep disorders.

Bergamot- Uplifts the mood, reduces symptoms of depression, and calms stress.

Peppermint- Enhances alertness, improves cognitive performance, and focus.

Rose-Encourages emotional openness, supporting grief and heart-centered healing.

Chamomile- Helps ease irritability, reduce insomnia, and calm nervous tension.

Lemongrass-Refreshes the mind, increases mental clarity, and reduces fatigue.

Frankincense supports grounding and mindfulness, which is often used during trauma processing.

Jasmine-Enhances confidence, acts as an emotional stimulant, and alleviates sadness.

Ylang-Ylang balances mood, helps regulate anger, and fosters joy.

Cedarwood promotes emotional security, often used for grounding purposes related to trauma.

Eucalyptus- Promotes deep breathing, clears mental fog, and helps release tension.

Geranium-Helps restore emotional equilibrium, particularly in hormone-related mood swings.

Sweet Orange-Increases positivity, reduces anxiety and supports social engagement.

Patchouli- Promotes stillness and helps ease overthinking, making it a helpful aid for trauma recovery and grounding.

Sandalwood - Enhances meditation and spiritual calm, making it great for inner reflection.

Therapy is not just about words; it’s about creating a space where you feel safe and secure.

Aromatherapy, when used ethically and compassionately, invites clients to engage in a healing experience that is embodied.

At Reliant Behavioral Health and Community Services, we invite you to be a co-creator in your wellness journey. Whether you want to learn how to blend your calming oil or explore how scents can support your mental health goals, we are here to guide you through the experience together.

Ready to Begin?

If you're curious about how aromatherapy could be integrated into your therapy sessions, we invite you to connect. Whether you're working through anxiety, stress, grief, or burnout, we’ll work together to find what resonates—breath by breath, scent by scent.

Schedule a free consultation or sign up for a session

Discover how we tailor aromatherapy to your unique journey.

Lisa Hardy-Gardner 7-5-2025

Reference:

Herz, R.S. (2009). “The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health.” Behavioral Neuroscience, American Psychological Association, Vol. 123(3), 328–336.