Vanilla has got to be one of the most recognizable and well-loved scents around. Once among some of the most precious substances on our planet, vanilla has been a sought-after plant since the days of the Aztec empire.
Today, the scent is easy enough to reproduce, but pure vanilla remains something rather magical. Not only is vanilla the second most expensive spice, after saffron, it also offers a multitude of incredible benefits for body, mind, and soul.
This plant isn’t just about its delicious flavor and powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, vanilla offers a boost of good things for your mental and emotional health, too.
Vanilla is Calming
In 1991, the New York-based Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center decided to test the effects of 5 different fragrances on 85 patients who were to under MRI scans. Vanilla was one of those fragrances, and it came out tops as the most relaxing.
Patients exposed to vanilla extract reported as much as 63% less claustrophobia and anxiety than those not exposed to it. As a result, Sloan-Kettering began including vanilla fragrances as a standard part of a patient’s MRI scans.
Another study was done by Germany’s Tubingen University and it also revealed that vanilla has the power to reduce our startle reflex.
Thanks to its super-calming properties, vanilla extract is commonly used in bath and body products to promote relaxation.
Our vanilla and lily blossom body wash is the perfect way to wash away the day’s stresses and prepare for a peaceful slumber.
Vanilla Helps You Sleep
The same way you might reach for a cup of chamomile tea to help you relax before bedtime, vanilla oils are known to help you achieve a more satisfying and deeper night’s sleep. Other than its ability to prevent hyperactivity and infection, vanilla scents help prevent anxiety and hypersensitivity to allergens.
Some studies show that sniffing vanilla extract might also prevent sleep apnea in premature babies.
Vanilla’s sedative benefits are so powerful that it can help lower your blood pressure and make you drowsy enough to send you off into a faster, more relaxing sleep.
Take a Deep Breath
Researchers from the National Center of Scientific Research in France discovered that the smell of vanilla can help ease breathing problems, too. During a study, 15 drops of vanilla extract were added to the pillows of infants in an intensive care unit while their respiratory rates were monitored for three days in a row.
It was noted that not only did sleep apnea decrease, but that vanilla positively affected the brain’s respiratory centers, in turn helping the infants to breathe deeply and easily.
Vanilla Scent is Uplifting
Whether you’re feeling a bout of the Monday blues coming on or you just need a little lift, vanilla is your go-to cheer up scent. The oil’s powerful aroma stimulates your brain to release endorphins, or happy hormones, as we like to call them.
As a result, you get to enjoy a feeling of satisfaction and calm.
Need a little midday mood boost? Try out vanilla and lily blossom liquid hand soap. It doesn’t just smell great, but it will lift your spirits and lock in moisture to keep your hands soft and supple all day long.
Vanilla as an Aphrodisiac
The molecular makeup of vanilla extra is similar to human pheromones, the chemical substances that are produced and released into the environment. What we’re saying is that vanilla is an attractor, encouraging increased levels of testosterone and estrogen.
Relax with Vanilla
Vanilla enjoys wide popularity as a relaxing scent that evokes feelings of warmth. It’s one of the main reasons we use it in our products. We want you to enjoy all the good feels all the time.
Vanilla is good for so much more than just cake and ice cream. Sure, we may use the term “vanilla” to describe something bland, but this is one fascinating plant with some seriously powerful mental and emotional benefits. And considering that, it’s little wonder that it’s one of the most popular scents in the world.
Try our vanilla-based body products today. Check out Soapbox to see our wide range of lotions and soaps.
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