What's That Smell?

Aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It is a treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling oils. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. It has been said that certain scents can help with the body’s digestion, respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems. Certain aromas can help to alleviate pain and reduce bruising. Some scents can help with arthritis and with common muscle pain. Some smells can relieve headaches and ease depression and even help to improve memory. All of this has not been evaluated.

It is known that odors we smell have a significant impact on how we feel. In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. We have the capability to distinguish 10,000 different smells. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. Researchers have tried odor experiments only in the work place. According to the publication Communication Briefings, one Japanese firm reports that air scented with lavender cut keypunching errors by 21 %. Jasmine-scented air dropped errors by 33 % and lemon in the air was even better- this cut errors by 54 %. Lavender reduces stress. Jasmine relaxes. Lemon stimulates. Odors do make a difference.

God made us in His image. We get a lot of information through the sense of smell, and God too has a sense of smell. Some smells He loves, some he does not. When you walk into the presence of the Almighty, and something wafts His way… what’s that smell is it sweet or is it not?

2 Corinthians 2:14–15 KJV

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

There are Some Things That Stink

Corruption

John 11:39 KJV

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Ephesians 2:1 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Foolishness

Psalm 38:5 KJV

My wounds stink and are corrupt Because of my foolishness.

Rebellion

There are Sweet Smells To God

Worship

Genesis 8:20–21 KJV

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

John 12:1–3 KJV

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Prayer

Psalm 141:2 KJV

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Sacrifice

Philippians 4:18 KJV

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Hebrews 13:15 KJV

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.