The product: For better or worse, strong smells tend to grab our attention. The air hanging over a bakery can make us hungry, and the atmosphere around a locker room can make us question our dedication to fitness. The typical nose can discern about 10,000 different scents; clearly, we're wired to sniff our way through life.
Many people think that smells even have the power to shape health. They light vanilla candles, burn jasmine incense and pour lavender into their baths in search of relaxation, stress reduction and protection against illness.
Of all the scents used in aromatherapy, lavender holds a prestigious place. It's been around for ages, and it's still extremely popular. Whether you're browsing online or shopping at a health food store, you'll have no trouble finding more lavender than your nose could ever stand.
You can buy large lavender aromatherapy candles for about $40. A small half-ounce vial of essential oil to dab on your skin or pour into your bath will cost about $10. For $20, QVC will sell you a lavender-scented aromatherapy shawl to wear after a shower. Other options include lavender-infused lotions as well as pillows and toy bunnies stuffed with the dried flowers.
The claims: Lavender is often promoted as a remedy for stressful, hectic lives. Two fairly typical examples: Lavender Fanatic, lavenderfanatic .com, a website selling a wide variety of lavender products, claims that the scent creates "instant calm and relaxation." The same site also says that aromatherapy can treat anxiety, depression, insomnia and headaches. Another site, Essentials-of-Aromatherapy, at www.essentialsofaromathera py.com,
claims that lavender and other aromatherapy scents can stimulate the immune system, energize the body and ease inflammation. Potential customers are assured that "aromatherapy is a great, natural complement or alternative to other health treatment options such as certain prescribed medications."
The bottom line: Charles Wysocki, a researcher with the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and an expert in the science of smells, has one positive thing to say about aromatherapy: "The marketers do a fantastic job."
Unfortunately, he says, most of their claims don't hold up.
