If you ever walk into my house, it’s going to be rare that you don’t smell some sort of scent that’s coming from a soy candle, a diffuser, or an Air Wick plug-in (if not all three). For me, the sense of smell is so important — and science certainly backs me on that. Not only does smell do practical things like alerting you to potential danger, helping you to taste your food better, and even making you aware of certain health-related issues, but smell is also tied to memory, emotion, and relational bonding.
Since this is the time of the year when the cooler weather probably has you spending a lot more time indoors than usual, I wanted to share with you 10 scents that are signature ones for fall — ones that, by just breathing them in (whether it’s via a room in your house or applying it in essential oil form on your body), they can do wonderful things for your mind, body and spirit too (by the way, although all of these have proven health benefits, we’re just gonna simply focus on the power and purpose of their scent today).
1. Cranberry
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Something that I like about the smell of cranberries is that they are fruity while also being really crisp — if that makes sense. It’s the kind of scent that is clean and invigorating while also being festive at the same time since cranberries are a fruit that is pretty much in abundance during the holiday season. What makes it a great smell to incorporate into your home is the fact that cranberry can be invigorating and yet, if you are looking for something that will reduce your stress levels, cranberry can do that for you too.
2. Vanilla
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Vanilla smells very sweet and even…warm — warm in the sense of being very comforting and yet intimate at the same time. And when you look at it from this perspective, it probably makes sense that vanilla has a reputation for providing an aphrodisiac effect. Even if you’re not looking to “set the mood,” though, vanilla is still a perfect fall scent because it helps to reduce stress, and induce calm and it can help you to have a more positive attitude as well. Also, if you’re looking to get a good night’s rest, vanilla can help you in that department too.
3. Cedarwood
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If you want your living room to smell like a marriage between being out in the woods and citrus fruit, believe it or not, cedarwood can make that happen for you. And, fascinatingly enough, that combination will not only help to deodorize the rooms of your house but reduce tension and even help to bring you clarity.
Something else that’s pretty awesome about the smell of cedarwood is if you’re working on a project and you need to focus a bit better, taking the smell in is highly beneficial. Or if you’ve had a really long day and want nothing more than to sleep soundly throughout the night, cedarwood also works perfectly in that way.
4. Cinnamon
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To me, cinnamon smells spicy, sweet, and also pretty warm — kind of like vanilla with a strong “kick” to it. And when it comes to its aromatherapy benefits, baby, it’s definitely one that you should try. Studies have proven that the scent of cinnamon not only helps to boost your creativity levels, cinnamon is good for your brain, aids in decreasing depression-related symptoms, can decrease feelings of fatigue and irritability — and, since it also falls into the aphrodisiac demographic, make sure that you at least light one cinnamon soy candle before the fall (or winter) season ends.
5. Pine
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What is it that the old Pine-Sol commercials used to say? Something along the lines that pine creates a fresh and clean scent? Their marketing team is actually right about that because there are studies to support that pine helps to purify the air and is a great ingredient (in essential oil form) to clean your house. Not only that but the scent of pine can help to decrease anxiety levels, relax your system and, if you need something that will quickly put you in a better mood, pine will make that happen also.
Plus, since Christmas trees are oftentimes pine ones, the smell of pine can put you in the holiday spirit, if that happens to be your favorite time of the year.
6. Apple
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Is it just me or is it hard to explain what apples smell like? I mean, don’t they basically smell like…apples? LOL. Anyway, if you like the sweetness that comes from sniffing one or if nothing makes you feel cozier than the aroma of homemade apple crisp, this is the fall scent for you. That said, if all of the hustle and bustle of the fall season has you feeling a bit tense or anxious, apples can help you to feel more relaxed.
Another thing that’s worth noting is since apples (and pears) are technically a part of the rose family, that may also explain why they are so fragrant. Finally, something that is really cool about this particular scent is if you follow recipes like this one here, you can make your own apple essential oil with the help of it and a carrier oil like grapeseed or plum.
7. Cloves
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The scent of cloves is something else that’s a mixture of spicy and sweetness. I like it a lot because, any time I use the fragrance in my own house, it immediately makes me think of things like cool weather, falling leaves, and apple cider. Believe it or not, a lot of people like to use the smell of cloves in their bathroom while soaking in a warm bath because it creates a calming effect.
Then, once you get out of the tub, if you and your bae would like to do something like…maybe some orgasmic meditation (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”), the sensual undertones of cloves can help you both to concentrate on each other better. Perfect.
8. Sandalwood
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I like sandalwood a lot because it’s got an earthy-meets-sensual-meets-almost milky smell to it. Because of this, in essential oil form, it tends to smell pretty amazing on both men and women. Aside from the fact that this is another scent that can de-stress you, sandalwood is very seductive which also makes it an effective aphrodisiac. Some other perks of sandalwood are it can help to improve your level of focus, sharpen your memory, and get you to sleep soundly at the end of every night.
9. Plum
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Oh, the sugar plum fairy. It’s a topic that comes up a lot around now because, for one reason, it’s the words that are used in the title of a song that is featured in The Nutcracker. And so, that alone makes the smell of fresh plums a befitting fall scent. If you like something that is very sweet and fruity with a hint of floral, that is what plum will bring into your life. It’s actually so pleasant that it’s a “base ingredient” in many perfumes. That’s because it has a way of being alluring and relaxing at the same time.
10. Peppermint
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And finally, there’s peppermint. Minty smells are super exhilarating which is one of the best things about having peppermint in your space because, if you want a traditional holiday scent that is able to energize you, increase productivity, and even control your appetite, you definitely need to put some peppermint oil into one of your diffusers.
Since it’s also able to boost your workout performances, clear out your sinuses, and give you energy all from just taking a whiff of it, please don’t let this fall season come to an end without having a peppermint candle somewhere in your house. No holiday season should go by without it!
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Hopefully, this was a quick reminder that your sense of smell is as relevant as the other four (sight, touch, taste, and hearing). So, why not pamper that part of your being with at least one of these scents over the next few weeks? They don’t just smell amazing — as you just saw, they can do wonders for you in a myriad of different ways too. Enjoy!
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Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
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“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
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While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
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