It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas

When it comes to Christmas in November there are definitely two types of people: those that are already talking trees, favourite christmas movies and all things festive and those that will be sticking their fingers in their ears and shaking their heads with a ‘too early’ anytime a christmas song is played before December the 1st.

As we already know Christmas is a whole lot more than what you find under the tree on Christmas morning but there is also a deeper level to the holidays beyond the twinkling fairy lights that meet the eye.

This Christmas season take the time to close your eyes, inhale a deep breath and allow yourself to enjoy the nostalgic and familiar scents that remind us that it is beginning to smell a lot like Christmas. Research has discovered that not only does this time of year tend to smell amazing but these smells could actually be beneficial to your mind and body.

So if you are already a Christmas fanatic you can start enjoying the festivities and these unknown benefits on a whole new level and if you are finding it too early to bring out the tinsel, you can just block out the baubles and simply breathe.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE
There is nothing quite like the smell of a real life Christmas tree. If you ever get the chance head out to the woods or even just have a wander around your local christmas tree farm and breathe in their sweet, earthy aroma. Scientists in Japan have revealed that this nostalgic scent of the season may also be good for your health. They discovered that the smell of pine needles can be beneficial in combating anxiety, stress and depression. Just breathing in their scent can improve your mood and overall feeling of wellbeing.

CINNAMON

This spice packs a festive punch and not only does it smell as if Christmas has just exploded inside your nose but studys have also discovered that it can help improve brain performance and memory. Research has found that just catching a whiff of Cinnamon can impact cognitive processing and increase attentional processes, visual-motor response speed and working memory, which could come in handy when trying to get through a Christmas to-do list as long as Santa’s.

A FESTIVE ORANGE
From dried orange garlands and clove studded orange pomanders to the traditional orange found in the toe of your stocking. Not only do oranges around the home look incredibly festive but the citrusy aroma has been shown to boost energy levels and increase alertness. It is also a great scent for creating a sense of composure and studies have found that a little sniff of orange can do wonders for helping to keep people calm under pressure. Perfect for when you need to navigate those hustling, bustling Christmas crowds.

#christmas #hypnotherapy #festivefun #emotionalwellbeing