More on the Power of "Scents"

My summer garden.  Who doesn't love the scent of flowers on a warm lazy summer day?

My children loved to be read to when they were young.  One of their favorite books was Detective Arthur on The Scent.  It was the story of a bloodhound who had received a special gift from his grandmother on his birthday - a detective kit.  Inside was a detective hat, a magnifying glass and a detecting book.  When his birthday cake suddenly disappeared, his mother encouraged him to use his kit to find the robbers.

Rule #1 in his book said to search for any strange objects.  Rule #2 said to smell all objects.  Arthur went on to smell a banana, a bunch of cherries, a lemon, grape jelly, mint ice cream and finally his chocolate birthday cake which he found on a picnic table surrounded by all his friends.  This delightful story not only had a happy ending but was possibly our first introduction to aromatherapy!

I love learning new things.  Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Life's a Smelling Success tells us that the smell of peppermint or banana will reduce food cravings. By placing just a few drops of essential oil of peppermint on a cotton ball and placing it inside a plastic bag, we can smell it and reduce our hunger pangs.  By just smelling a banana we get the same effects and don't even have to peel it!  I'm really curious about this and want to learn more.