For Miranda Mhango, junior in accounting, smells are important.

“When I am going to a function or something like that and I want to feel different, I will use scented things. I like smells of fruit or nature; they have a softness to them that I like,” she said.

Mhango said people’s smells can even influence what she thinks about them.

“A person’s scent gives off an impression of that person. Overwhelming smells, to me, signify pushy people; maybe that is why I like lighter scents,” she said.

Mhango is just one person who believes in the power of aromatherapy.

Dr. Malhar Gor‚, physician at the Student Health Center, said the effects of aromatherapy often depend on the particular person.

“There is great individual variation. Perhaps it is also a question of how susceptible that person is to ‘suggestibility,'” he said. “Aromatherapy recipes vary in their components and in the descriptions of the properties and characteristics of the vapors.”

Because certain smells are perceived differently in each individual’s mind, and therapeutic lotions and oils are all used in various ways, Gor‚ said whether aromatherapy works depends on who uses it and how.

“It depends upon your approach to aromatherapy — whether solely inhalational, applied topically as a massage oil or perhaps partially ingested,” he said. “The olfactory route may be purely psychological; the gustatory route is probably physiological as well. The topical avenue probably provides a mostly physiological response, although the massage itself causes a relaxing, psychological response.”

There are empirical explanations as to why aromatherapy might work for some people, Gor‚ said.

“When inhaled, the aromatherapy vapors can affect our bodies in several ways,” he said. “The molecules enter the nasal passages, where they stimulate the olfactory nerve. This can stimulate the limbic system. The limbic system, located in the brain, is postulated to be the seat of memory, learning and emotion.

“The changes triggered within the limbic system can stimulate psychological responses within the body via the nervous, endocrine or immune systems,” he said.

Gor‚ said while the specific effectiveness of aromatherapy as a whole is still up for debate, there is no denying that certain smells have emotional properties.

“You have probably experienced this yourself, where a certain aroma, more than a visual stimulus, jars your memory,” he said.

This happens, Gor‚ said, because of “the intricate connection between mind and body. As a result of mental or emotional responses, a problem in one area of the body may affect another, and the results are variable.”

Gor‚ said some studies have shown odors of bergamot, chamomile, lavender, melissa, celery, sage, neroli, rose and jasmine can help in reducing stress.

It is important to remember, though, as with any other therapy, each individual will be affected differently, Gor‚ said.

“No two persons are affected in the same way. Even the same person can be affected differently depending on surroundings, time of day or mood,” he said.

But if one finds a certain scent that seems to work, go with it, Gor‚ said.

“If you feel better and you are not causing any harm to yourself or to others, there is nothing wrong with trying it,” he said.