Senses give meaning to life. Without them, humanity would slug through life with little emotion, memory, and amusement. Smell, one of the five main senses, serves many purposes. Not only can it satisfy and pleasure, but it can also revive ancient memories and warn of what is near that perhaps is invisible to sight. Thousands of different smells can hold thousands of different meanings, depending on the person or animal. One smell in particular, Jasmine, holds great importance. Not only does it satisfy, but it’s effects make it a valuable and popular scent.
Jasmine, of course, is an extract from the Jasmine flower which appears as a simple pedaled flower dressed in white, occasionally yellow. Therefore, it carries a natural, flowery odor. Jasmine is best known for the delicate and captivatingly sweet fragrance of its flowers (“Jasmine”). Exactly what is so captivating, researchers are not quite sure. Nevertheless, its captivating effects have power over any lucky victim. In one study, researchers found that participants exposed to Jasmine slept overwhelmingly better than those who were not (Calechman 5). Even today, scientists have theories as to what other effects Jasmine produces. Scientifically, Jasmine attains soothing powers.
Personally, Jasmine holds a special place in my smelly world. I, too, notice its soothing and calming effects. Yet, the sweet fragrance goes further and deeper than this. As a child, and even more so as a teenager, life proved to be anything but easy. However, no matter how hard my day was, I came home feeling a little more relaxed, a little more happier. My mother, who loves candles, always burned at least one Jasmine candle. Coming home to that scent always made my mood somewhat better. Therefore, that scent provided enough positive feelings to help me acquire more positive feelings. Not only this, but the smell was welcoming, loving, as if the scent it self was welcoming me into its delicate arms. Like the researchers, I am unable to pin point as to why this smell boosts my feelings and relaxes. Now that I am away from home, on my own, I find I can not live with out the refreshing smell. In almost every outlet of my dorm room rests a plug in fragrance-jasmine of course. Sometimes, if I close my eyes, its as if the smell takes me back home. In addition to its regularly known effects, it provides a sweet memory of home, family life, and love.
Soothing, relaxing, and full of memories, Jasmine provides more than one purpose. While science proves its aromatherapy effects, I can prove its welcoming, loving effect. Therefore, Jasmine holds significance in my life because it provides an outlet of happiness and love as well as relaxation and soothingness.
