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How to Feel Good with Fragrance

Increasingly, people are turning to aromatherapy and using smell to soothe stress, add a sense of comfort or revive their spirits. There’s a whole feel-good festival with this in mind, and we’re thrilled to be taking part in Live Well London from 1-3 March 2019 – which you can read all about here – where we’ll be bringing our How to Improve Your Sense of Smell Workshop and exploring how scent truly can have a deeply emotional effect, every day.

In fact, we’re pre-conditioned to have smell preferences, and our response is based partly on our individual genetic make-up (our DNA), and partly on our life experiences. So: that crushed tomato leaf note that reminds you of a beloved grandmother and her greenhouse – or the jasmine that was growing round a door when you were poorly on holiday, and which you can now hardly stomach.

Many people use fragrance as a boost for their spirits, perhaps without realising they’re doing so, and there is even a name for the science behind this: ‘aromachology’.

It’s been scientifically proven that different aromas can impact on mood and emotions – not just personally, but affecting those around you. Bergamot is a feel-good ingredient, peppermint makes you perkier and more alert, and grapefruit – believe it or not – apparently makes others believe you’re younger than you are!

This is one reason so many people now have a ‘wardrobe’ of fragrances, rather than just one signature scent: a perfume to make them feel romantic, after a hard day staring at a computer screen; to give them a relaxed, weekend feel on Saturdays and Sundays – or simply something that they spritz on for work, in the morning, which makes them feel focused and professional, in the same way as a smart suit or a crisp white shirt.

We’re huge believers in using scent every day as a way to – literally – take a breather, and for the first time, Beauty Bible and The Perfume Society have teamed up to collate the Feel Good Discovery Box, filled with fragrant award-winning goodies you can use and enjoy on a daily basis.

If you love the smell of a product, you’re far more likely to use it regualrly and see the benefits of adding it into your beauty routine, but it’s also time to consider allowing yourself the luxury of a few minutes each day: inhaling the aromas and treating yourself to a mini-spa experience by focusing on the smell alone.

It’s genuinely life-changing.

If your spirits could do with a boost, read more about wellness scents to try, or why not indulge yourself (or treat a friend who’s been going through a hard time) to a whole box of fragrant, feel-good delights….?

Feel Good Discovery Box £19 (£15 for VIP Club members)

So how do you use fragrance to make you feel better, stronger, calmer or self-assured? Are there perfumes you find yourself reaching for in certain situations, and how do they make you feel? Live Well London would love to hear from you about whatever makes you feel better – and we sure many of our readers will already be using scent to boost their spirits on a daily basis – so do get involved in the discussion by using #yourlivewell in social media…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Five Favourite Smells: Rebecca & Clare Hopkins of Balance Me

In a continuaton of our series asking industry insiders their Five Favourite Smells – because really, is there any better way to know someone? – we caught up with the founders of Balance Me, sisters Clare and Rebecca Hopkins, and got them to reveal all…

Balance Me was created by British sisters, Rebecca and Clare Hopkins in London back in 2005. Their honestly natural, botanically active formulations – at the heart of what makes Balance Me unique and effective – have been truly pioneering.

And thanks to the huge advances in natural chemistry in recent years, this has allowed Balance Me to push the boundaries on what is possible to achieve in natural skincare, without compromising on results. The brand’s mission from day one has been to solve concerns and bring skin into balance and advocates self-care through skincare with their sophisticated and easily absorbed textures so using them is a pleasure.

Of course, because of their high-quality ingredients, much of the range happens to smell incredible as an added bonus. We’re of the opinion that when products you use for a daily beauty routine smell good, they make you feel even better, and so you are likely to use them more frequently while gaining the benefits of some much-needed me-time: something we all need to be more mindful of in these ever-busy, troubled times.

As well as their innovative natural ingredients such as Vitamin C, peptides and Hyaluronic Acid, each aromatherapeutic Balance Me fragrance is blended on three levels: for its unique, natural aroma; for skin benefits and mood-boosting properties through the sense of smell.

Rebecca:

Lemon – ‘I start my day with a glass of warm water and lemon as I find it really hydrating, aids digestion and it’s a natural body cleanser! early mornings, start to the day. I love mornings and find it’s when I have the most energy and excitement for what lays ahead of me.

Hyacinths – I would have them in the house year-round if I could! They evoke lighter, warmer spring days and just boost my mood.

The Atlantic sea in North Cornwall – My happy place! We spend long, early summers here surfing, coastal walking and just hanging out with family. The sea air is always a huge natural tonic.

Roses – We grew up near to the Peak District and our parents garden was always full of flowers, in particular roses. Our parents had a lovely rose bed and I remember spending long, lazy summer days outside in their garden making an array of fragrances that I insisted my mother spritz on her skin!

Neroli – I find neroli such a beautiful, calming fragrance. It is in Balance Me’s Super Moisturising Body Oil that one of our formulators created for me when I was pregnant with my first daughter. It conjures up such happy memories and I continue to benefit from it daily, not only in our oil but in our Hyaluronic Plumping Mist that I carry everywhere with me. I think I am a bit obsessed!

Clare:

Mountain flowers in Crete – This is where I learned Ashtanga yoga all those years ago and I remember not only being blown away by the fabulous yoga there, but also the beauty of walking to the yoga shala with a view of the sea, goat bells tinkling in the background and the gorgeous smell of the mountain flowers. They use the flowers to make tea.

Roses – Just like Rebecca I remember our parents Rose beds in our garden. They were full of beautiful pink and white English roses with soft petals. They smelt gorgeous and we used to pick them to make potions and perfumes.

Pine forest – On our first camping trip as a family we stayed in France and our Father spent the whole holiday commenting on the smell of pine forests – it reminded him of growing up in his childhood in Virginia Water. I now always think of him when I walk through a Pine forest.

Sea air – I love swimming outside in the lido but nothing beats a trip to the seaside and a swim in the sea. Like Rebecca, our Cornish holidays have made a big impact on me and we now go back yearly with our children. The seaside village is packed with families who have been going there for generations. It is such a relaxing and happy place, partly for it’s beauty and partly for the slower, simpler pace of life (I love the fact the mobile reception is really patchy and it is faster to walk to the beach across the cliffs than take the inland road).

Mountain Air – We live in London, and although I love the buzz of the City and our work and many of our friends live here, it is great to get away. We have started taking the children skiing each year and it’s been fun to learn again with them. I love the smell of the fresh, clean mountain air.

Balance Me benefits – exclusively for VIPs!

We think it’s about time you pampered yourself, don’t you…?
With the distinct lack of sunshine and everyday stresses taking their toll, it’s vital not simply to stop and smell the roses every now and again – but to slather yourself in exqusitely scented things. As one of our VIP passionate perfumistas, you know the myriad of benefits that come from smelling fabulous at all times. With this in mind, we’ve arranged an exclusive VIP offer – just for you!

Balance Me is an award-winning aromatherapy‑inspired skincare range beloved by beauty editors around the world. All their products are created with bespoke blends of essential oils selected for their natural aromas as well as their mood‑boosting and skin-enhancing properties. They want you to feel good, look good and smell great – and for further mood-boosting, are offering VIP Subscibers a 10% discount on all orders.
With the code lasting until 31st December, you could even stock-up on stocking gifts if you want to get super-organised!
CODE: VIPTPS
Exp date: 31st December 2016
Terms and conditions: This code entitles the bearer to 10% off at www.balanceme.co.uk and expires midnight 31/12/16. This code cannot be used in conjunction with any other VIP or LOYALTY codes. Users must be logged in to redeem VIP codes and the code must be entered at the checkout stage. For full terms and conditions please see the Balance Me website.