Don’t Just Smell It—Feel It! A Deeper Way to Enjoy Aromas

Our senses shape how we experience the world, but language shapes how we understand them. Recently, I started thinking about the difference between smelling and feeling a scent. The thought came to me when I realized that in some languages, there’s no direct way to say “to smell.” Instead, people say “to feel the smell.” What first seemed like a small linguistic detail soon led me to a deeper question: Do we simply notice scents, or do we truly experience them?

In English, smelling is often passive. We catch the scent of a flower, a cup of coffee, or fresh rain on the pavement, and then the moment passes. But when a language frames scent as something we feel, it becomes more than just a quick impression. It suggests an experience that goes beyond the nose—one that involves our emotions, memories, and even our sense of self.

Why Scent Feels So Personal?

Smell is the oldest of our senses, deeply connected to the part of the brain that processes emotions and memories (Herz, 2016). Unlike sight or sound, scents don’t pass through the usual filters of thought before affecting us. Instead, aromas hit us directly, triggering feelings and memories without warning (Shepherd, 2004). That’s why a certain perfume can suddenly bring back a long-forgotten moment, or why the scent of the ocean breeze can make us feel peaceful before we even know why.

When we stop simply smelling a scent and start feeling it, we engage with it differently. Essential oils, for example, can do more than just smell pleasant—they can shift our mood, clear our mind, and even help with healing. Studies have shown that Rosemary essential oil (Salvia rosmarinus ct. cineole) may help with memory and focus (Moss & Oliver, 2012). In places like hospice care and PTSD therapy, scent is used to bring comfort, ease anxiety, and help people feel safe (Daniels & Vermetten, 2016).

Maybe it’s time to rethink how we approach scent—not just as something we notice, but as something we experience. Instead of simply smelling, what if we let aroma move through us, stir something deeper, and connect us to the world in a more meaningful way?

The Wholeness of Essential Oils

Essential oils are often described as the “soul” of plants. While this isn’t a scientific statement, it resonates deeply with those who work with them. Beyond their chemistry, essential oils carry something less tangible—a presence, an energy, a history of healing and ritual.

Each essential oil is like a symphony, made up of many different compounds that work together in harmony. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), for example, contains linalool and linalyl acetate, compounds known for their ability to calm the nervous system and ease inflammation (Kuroda et al., 2005). But lavender is more than just a collection of molecules. It holds the essence of the plant—its resilience, its purpose, its connection to nature.

When we simply smell an essential oil, we notice its presence. But when we feel it, we invite it in. We let it move through us, not just affecting our body, but also our emotions, thoughts, and even our spirit.

This is where the real power of aromatherapy lies.

Not in the act of smelling, but in the experience of feeling.

A Deeper Way to Perceive Scent

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that perception isn’t just something that happens to us—it’s something we do. In his work De Anima (On the Soul), he suggested that all senses require active engagement. This applies perfectly to aroma. Smelling is passive, but feeling is a choice.

The way we engage with scent can shape our reality. The philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty described perception as more than just receiving information—it’s an experience that connects our body, mind, and surroundings. Smell, perhaps more than any other sense, dissolves the boundary between “me” and “the world.” When we feel an aroma, we aren’t just noticing it—we are becoming part of it. The scent moves through us, pulling memories from the past, shaping emotions in the present, and influencing our state of being.

Interestingly, the Stoics also saw perception as a key to self-mastery. They believed that true wisdom comes from paying attention, from being fully aware of how we engage with the world. Smell, when approached with intention, can be a tool for reflection, grounding, and transformation (Robertson, 2016).

This idea connects with modern mindfulness practices, which encourage deep awareness of the senses as a path to inner peace (Kabat-Zinn, 2005). When we stop rushing through life and truly feel an aroma, we enter the present moment more fully. In that moment, scent becomes more than a fragrance. It becomes a guide, perhaps even a teacher, leading us toward clarity, healing, and personal growth.

A Deeper Connection of Smelling vs. Feeling

The difference between smelling and feeling a scent is like the difference between noticing something and experiencing it. Smelling is an act of recognition—we identify an aroma, name it, and move on. But feeling is a deeper engagement. It is how a scent touches us—how it stirs emotions, shifts our thoughts, or awakens something within.

When we smell an essential oil, we are observers.

When we feel it, we become participants.

Take Rose essential oil (Rosa × damascena). If we only smell it, we might describe its floral sweetness or gentle warmth. But if we allow ourselves to feel it, something more happens. Love. Softness. A quiet opening of the heart. Rose has long been associated with compassion and self-acceptance, and many spiritual traditions connect it to the heart center—a place of emotional healing and inner peace.

This is the difference between a casual encounter and a transformative experience.

How to Stop Smelling and Start Feeling

We spend so much of our lives rushing from one thing to another that we rarely take the time to fully experience a scent. But if we slow down and engage with intention, aromas can become powerful guides for self-awareness, healing, and connection.

Here are some simple ways to move from passive smelling to active feeling:

1. Pause and Set an Intention. Before inhaling an essential oil, take a moment to center yourself. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and set an intention. It could be something simple, like “I am open to peace” or “I allow this aroma to guide me.”
2. Engage Fully. As you breathe in the scent, notice more than just the fragrance. Notice its texture. Is it sharp, soft, warm, or cool? How does it move, does it linger, expand, or shift as you inhale? Pay attention to any emotions or memories that surface.
3. Write it Down. Journaling helps bridge the gap between the conscious and subconscious. After an aromatherapy session, take a few minutes to write about your experience. What did you feel? How did you feel? What thoughts or images came to mind? Did the scent trigger a particular memory?
4. Experiment with Combinations. Different essential oils evoke different emotions, and blending them can create unique sensory experiences. Try combining oils intuitively—not based on what “should” work, but on what feels right in the moment (this is how I discovered that thyme and jasmine make the perfect pair for me!).
5. Create a Ritual. Make your aromatherapy practice more meaningful by pairing it with a ritual. Play soft music, light a candle, or maybe meditate as you breathe in the scent. Rituals create depth and intention, turning a simple act into a profound experience.

The Evolution of the Self Through Aromas

Aromatherapy is more than a momentary experience—it is a journey of personal evolution. Scents don’t just affect us in passing; they shape our emotions, memories, and inner world over time. Because smell is directly linked to the limbic system, essential oils have the power to create lasting emotional and behavioral shifts.

• A deep inhale of Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) may first seem like a simple woodsy, resinous aroma. But when truly felt, it evokes the vastness of a starry sky, where the immensity of life roots and humbles you and helps you connect with the divine.
• The scent of Sweet Orange (Citrus × sinensis) might smell bright and zesty, but it may also feel like summer warmth and joy, or the soft embrace of a breeze full of hope for fresh starts.
• At first, Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) may seem like a familiar forest scent. But when allowed to unfold, it roots you deeply into the earth, awakening a primal essence within—reconnecting you to the wild, untamed spirit of nature.

The difference is not just in how we perceive scents, but in how they shape us. When we let aromas speak to us—rather than simply registering their presence—we build a deeper connection with ourselves. Through scent, we learn, heal, and transform in ways we never expected.

The Personal and Cultural Dimensions of Scent

That said, it’s crucial to remember that the way we experience scents is deeply personal and not universal. The emotions, memories, and associations tied to a particular aroma can vary based on individual experiences, nervous system state, health conditions, and cultural background.

In some traditions, jasmine symbolizes sensuality and celebration, while in others, it is a flower of mourning. Frankincense, widely used in Christian, Islamic, and Hindu traditions, carries different spiritual meanings depending on the context, ranging from purification to divine connection. Similarly, what is uplifting to one person may be overwhelming to another.

This cultural and personal lens shapes how we feel an aroma, making it even more unique and intimate experience for each individual.

Embracing the Evolutionary Power of Aromas

The shift from smelling to feeling is more than just a linguistic curiosity—it is an invitation to a deeper sensory experience. Imagine how your relationship with aromatherapy might change if, instead of simply identifying scents, you let them move through you, stir emotions, and become part of your story.

Aromas do more than linger in the air. They shape us, awaken memories, and guide us toward transformation.

Next time you inhale an essential oil, pause. Don’t just smell it—feel it. Let it wrap around your senses, stir something deep within, and lead you toward healing, reflection, and self-discovery. You may be surprised by the depth of change a single breath can bring.

References

Aristotle. (1931). On the soul (J. A. Smith, Trans.). The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/soul.html (Original work published 350 B.C.E.)

Daniels, J. K., & Vermetten, E. (2016). Odor-induced recall of emotional memories in PTSD—Review and new paradigm for research. Experimental Neurology, 284(Pt B), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.08.001

Herz R. S. (2016). The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health. Brain sciences, 6(3), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci6030022

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Delta Trade Paperback/Bantam Dell.

Kuroda, K., Inoue, N., Ito, Y., Kubota, K., Sugimoto, A., & Masuda, H. (2005). Psychological and physiological effects of inhalation of essential oils. Chemical Senses, 30(Suppl 1), i268–i269.

Moss, M., & Oliver, L. (2012). Plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2(3), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125312436573

Robertson, D. (2018). How to think like a Roman emperor: The Stoic philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. St. Martin’s Press.

Shepherd, G. M. (2004). The synaptic organization of the brain. Oxford University Press.