The Power of Scent: How Natural Scents Work With the Body & Mind

From the uplifting zest of citrus to the grounding warmth of cedarwood, scent has the power to shape our mood, transport us through memory, and transform the ordinary into something sacred. But not all scents are created equal. Natural fragrances—from essential oils and plant essences—offer a more harmonious and healthful alternative than more synthetic alternatives.

At Pharmacopia, we have always honored the art of aromatherapy and the wisdom of plants. Their natural fragrance--from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots, and fruits--is the heart of our formulations. We tapped into many of these scents for our signature lines: Citrus and Verbena as well as for our Mint Argan Body Bar and Tangerine Lip Elixir. We believe that natural scents are healthier for the body, mind and spirit.

The Science of Scent

Our sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic system in the brain. This is the area responsible for emotions, behavior, and memory. When you inhale a scent, odor molecules travel through the nose to the olfactory receptors. These receptors then send signals to the brain evoking certain feelings.

Unlike synthetic fragrances, which often contain hundreds of lab-created chemicals that can disrupt hormones or trigger allergies, natural scents from essential oils and plant extracts have evolved alongside our biology. In fact, scientists have found that essential oils, in particular, are able to penetrate the skin to work with the

body. This means our bodies are more receptive to natural scents and often respond with positive effects.

Why Natural Scents are Better Than Synthetic Fragrances

There are many reasons why we at Pharmacopia choose natural scents:

1. Purity and safety. Natural essential oils are extracted from plants often through steam distillation or cold pressing. They’re free from the potentially harmful chemicals found in synthetic fragrances—like phthalates and parabens—which may irritate skin, harm respiratory health, and/or disrupt hormones.

2. Therapeutic benefits. Many essential oils are used in aromatherapy for their proven healing properties. While synthetic scents might mimic the smell of mint or lemon, they lack the powerful natural compounds called terpenes that provide real benefits such as boosting mood or enhancing focus.

3. Environmental impact. Plant-based oils are biodegradable, meaning that they can be broken down once in the environment. Synthetic fragrances, on the other hand, often rely on petroleum-derived ingredients—which aren’t biodegradable—and polluting manufacturing processes.

The Healing Power of Our Natural Scents

Certain scents have been carefully selected to play starring roles in our better-for-you body care products. These include:

1. Uplifting Citrus

Bright and refreshing, citrus essential oils are natural mood

boosters—which is why they’re key ingredients in our popular Citrus Body Wash, Body Lotion, Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Bar.  These oils contain natural limonene, an oil extracted from the peels of citrus fruits. Limonene has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and stress-reducing properties.

The citrus scents that can be found in Pharmacopia body care:

🌱Bergamot: A lesser known citrus fruit, this plant has a slightly spicy, floral aroma. Research has shown that bergamot essential oil can reduce levels of

 cortisol (the stress hormone) and helps promote a sense of well-being.

🌱Grapefruit: This zesty oil has a refreshing aroma that stimulates the senses and promotes feelings of joy.

🌱Lemon: Known for its clean, crisp aroma, lemon oil is energizing and great for mental clarity.

🌱Orange: Orange oil has a calming effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress.

🌱Tangerine: This sweet, juicy aroma is known for its mood-boosting and stress-reducing properties, why it’s featured in our Tangerine Lip Elixir.

2. Energizing Mint

Peppermint has energizing and cooling effects. You can find it, along with limonene, in our Mint Argan Body Bar. Mint is especially good for enhancing focus and relieving headaches or muscle tension.

How it works: Menthol, the natural chemical that gives peppermint its characteristic aroma, creates a refreshing sensation that wakes up the mind and body.

3. Soothing Verbena

Lemon verbena has a sharp, citrusy aroma with an herbal undertone. It's often used to relieve stress and insomnia. Its natural sedative properties help calm the nervous system. You can find verbena in our Shampoo and Conditioner, Body Wash and Body Lotion, and in our Body Bar.

Verbena also contains potent natural compounds like citral and geraniol, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifungal properties.

4. Sweet, Earthy Basil

A lesser-known but powerful scent, basil has a warm, spicy, and slightly sweet aroma. It helps to reduce mental fatigue and stress—thanks to the natural chemicals eugenol and linalool. Basil is also an effective antibacterial, making it a good option for soothing irritated skin and scalp.

You can find basil in our Verbena Collection, including our Verbena Shampoo and Conditioner.

5. Zesty Lemongrass

Lemongrass essence is bright, lemony, and earthy. It plays a key role in the uplifting scent of our Verbena body care products. Lemongrass has also been found to be a powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory ingredient as well.

6. Calming Cedarwood

Warm, woodsy, and grounding, cedarwood is a classic scent for relaxation and inner peace. It’s particularly effective at reducing anxiety and improving sleep.

There’s some belief that cedarwood helps to activate production of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, though more research needs to be done to confirm this. Some studies have shown that cedarwood is also an antimicrobial and helps breathing when you have a cold.

Find cedarwood in our Verbena line including our Body Wash and Body Lotion.

Natural scents are more than pleasant aromas; they’re tools for healing and balance. When we choose essential oils and plant-based fragrances over synthetic alternatives, we’re not just avoiding toxins; we’re choosing to align our bodies and minds with the rhythms of nature.