If you need to relax, cheer up, have fun, resist pigging out, feel sexy or perk up, why not treat yourself and your nose to some great scents? Smells can be strong emotional trigger. The mere hint of lilac might unleash a flood of cherished memories of carefree summer evenings or remind you of dreaded cheek pinchings from your Great-Aunt Minerva. Reponses to scents can be obvious or subtle: often people that are feeling sad or depressed consciously or unconsciously surround themselves with aromas that bring back thoughts of happiness or positive feelings. Adherents of positive thinking know that certain fragrances can help put you in a positive mood, and being positive is the first step towards attracting positive things into your life. Using scents to improve quality of life have even caught the attention of the medical and science communities.

According to Dr. Gary E. Schwartz, Yale University Psychology and Psychiatry professor, studies are showing that some scents can have as comparable an effect on blood pressure and stress as traditional pharmaceutical methods, sans any side effects and high cost. In his studies, the smell of spiced apples was especially effective in lowering systolic blood pressure in healthy test subjects. While not yet tested on subjects who were diagnosed as hypertensive, the possibilities are exciting. Reducing stress can heighten focus and increase productivity in your life. Next time you find yourself frazzled try sniffing some spiced apple essential or fragrance oils, light a scented soy candle or spray your office with spiced apple room freshener. Here are some other suggestions:

• If you need to concentrate try lily-of-the valley or peppermint scents.

• Lemon and rosemary can help get you over the mid to late afternoon energy slump.

• Having problems sleeping? Try spraying some lavender, marjoram, geranium or cardamom scent on your pillow or sheets just before bedtime.

• Is a minor cough driving you crazy? Eucalyptus scent might help calm things down.

• The lovely bouquet of jasmine might provide a mood lifter when you are feeling a bit down and the sensuous smell of roses can help put romance in the air.

The use of scents in weight reduction is also being explored. Duke University Medical Center's Dr. Susan S. Schiffman, who heads the medical center's weight loss unit, is working on food sprays that would be used when the urge to overeat or indulge in high calorie food hits. Chocolate seems to be especially effective in helping the dieter resist the urge to overindulge. Craving a warm fudge brownie? Take a heady whiff of chocolate instead. If you have a finicky eater at home a ginger potpourri bowl placed on the dining room table might help to stimulate the appetite.

Bringing scents into your life doesn't have to be expensive; in fact you can indulge yourself by incorporating potpourri, scented candles, scented oils and scented bath products into your surroundings. Scented soy candles are a favorite way to bring a variety of aromas into your life. These inexpensive, ecologically sound, and clean burning highly aromatic treats can arouse passion, revive memories, and conjure up fun or satisfy that sweet tooth (without the calories!) You can have great fun with candles, using a different type of scent for every room. Warm Cinnamon buns, Sweet Summer Berries or Hot Fudge Brownie soy jar candles in the kitchen, Lovely Lilac or Fresh Laundry soy tin candles in the bathroom, and half a dozen votive candles in your favorite designer scent in the bedroom are just a few ways to use scented soy candles. Many people fall in love with the way a clean burning soy candle fills the air and become passionate soy candle collectors (you just can't stop at one!) Regardless of how you do it: go ahead and give yourself a treat; surround yourself with "scentsational" scents.