Author: Charles Kelly
I sometimes found myself frustrated at work, looking for temporary escapes from the modern madness of life. I tried stress balls and taking walks on my lunch break, although these had minimal effects on me. I remember reading something that said out of our five senses, the strongest is smell. Knowing there were many aromatherapies out there, I wanted something I could keep at my desk, like roll-on scents and lotion that I could rub into my hands and smell for relaxation.
It surprised me how effective they were. I started using roll-on fragrances that boosted my focus, containing peppermint, lemon, and rosemary, which I bought on Amazon. These blends often contained everything I needed. What I did not expect was how well they worked. When I really needed to focus, I would roll the scent on my top lip. It acted almost like a mental primer, letting my mind know we were about to dive into deep work, and it kept me focused. Another thing I loved about these scents was that they were much milder than coffee while keeping me engaged for extended work sessions.
After seeing how well they worked for focus, I wanted to see if they could help me destress at work. I tried lavender, bergamot, and chamomile, which turned out to be even more effective than the focus blends. The best thing about roll-ons is how discreet they are. They are small enough to keep in my pocket, and if a meeting got a little heated, I could pull one out and apply it. I have even done this in a room full of people or in a one-on-one meeting, and nobody has ever said anything. For me, these quick moments of clarity are essential. The stress-relief scents acted almost like a trigger for my brain to relax and stay grounded.
I also value cologne. Yes, too much is too much, but the right kind makes you smell clean and optimistic when you walk into work. I started keeping a bottle of cologne at my desk because I believed that if I did not wear it, I would not perform at my best. To me, being clean, smelling good, and brushing my teeth might sound like a quirk, but it really works. When you feel good about yourself and maintain top-notch personal hygiene, it shows in the quality of your work.
I became almost obsessed with how these roll-ons were managing my moods. I began investing in creams too, especially a lavender cream from L’Occitane. When work got super stressful, I would apply some to my hands, cup them together, inhale, close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths. This was one of the most relaxing and powerful ways to shift my mood.
For sleep, I had a lot of anxiety, worrying that if I did not fall asleep, I would become manic the next day, be unprepared for work, and everything would fall apart. I started applying a lavender roll-on and using lavender cream, which helped shut down my racing thoughts so I could fall asleep. When my mind kept spiraling, I began taking baths with eucalyptus, lavender, and muscle recovery solutions after running. A bath turned out to be a strong way to relax after a stressful day. I would dim all the lights, burn sandalwood incense, and just sit there breathing without TV or a book. I realized that bringing electronics or even reading material into the bath made me avoid true relaxation because I would be distracted by the show or the story.
I also started using incense in my meditation practice, whether in the morning or at night, much like I use the roll-ons. The scents help trigger my mind into non-thinking mode, letting me focus on my breath and the present moment. This consistency in using scent triggers has really solidified the effect in my brain.
Another avenue I explored was using sauna therapy combined with aromatherapy. The spa I go to lets you add essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to the water bucket, which you then pour onto the rocks. The scent in the steam is very potent, and I always leave feeling completely disconnected from work and reconnected with the present moment.
What I have learned about scents is the power to train your mind. Even if you feel negative, you can grab a stress-relief roll-on and apply it, tying that negative feeling to a distinct sense experience. This has helped me become a freer, more flexible person who does not overreact. I want my mind to be like water. When you throw a rock into water, it does not erupt like a volcano. It just ripples and then settles. Scents have brought me closer to that mindset and improved how I manage my moods with Bipolar Disorder.
The content of the International Bipolar Foundation blogs is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician and never disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read in any IBPF content.
