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"Certain scents can trigger a chemical reaction in the brain that aids relaxation, says Alan Hirsch, M.D., founder and neurological director of The Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation of Chicago. So, if you&amp;#039;re feeling stressed, you might want to consider just holding some (or all) of these things up to your nose for a hot minute. 1. Baby powder  Baby powder makes you feel calm because it can induce the primal nostalgic feeling of childhood, where you felt safe and secure. 2. Vanilla  Vanilla not only makes people feel instantly at ease, but also is so soothing it can make you fall asleep faster. Baby bottle nipples are often infused with a vanilla scent, which, much like baby powder, can make the scent soothing into adulthood. 3. Lavender  A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience revealed that lavender oil has been found to affect the brain in such a way that it increases drowsiness. 4. The Scent of a Loved One  Getting a whiff of your husband \u2014 or even BFF \u2014 can trigger an in-love feeling that our brains find soothing because of its familiarity. This response can also occur in certain places \u2014 like your bedroom at your parents&amp;#039; house \u2014 that you consider calming. 5. CAKE! Or Any Baked Good  Baked goods can induce a state of relaxation because you&amp;#039;re smelling something that is familiar, safe, secure \u2014 and obviously delicious! 6. Cucumbers   This aroma is said to reduce anxiety and induce relaxation because the scent takes you back to your childhood (a less anxiety-ridden time of life), when picnics and get-togethers were more common. 7. Chamomile  Chamomile tea has a soothing herbaceous scent that many people find calming, but Dr. Hirsch believes this may just be a placebo response. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s almost like a phenomenon because people relate the scent to how they feel after drinking the tea,&amp;quot; he says. For many of us, herbal tea = relaxing. 8. Sunscreen or Suntan Lotion  Scents you associate with travel, like the smell of sunscreen, can often trigger a relaxed state, since they remind you of vacation, where you were less stressed. 9. Lemongrass  Lemongrass is often used in products to help relieve stress and anxiety because it has a light, earthy scent. However, Dr. Hirsch believes that it&amp;#039;s more so an intangible soothing feeling that people get when they smell it that induces relaxation, rather than a chemical relaxation trigger in the brain. NEXT: 4 Reasons Journaling Is Good for You \u00BB Photos: Getty Images This story originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com More from Cosmopolitan: \u2022 14 Hacks for Treating Sunburns \u2022 11 Things You Should Never Put On Your Face \u2022 When Not Feeling Like Yourself Can Be Life Threatening "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/a25624/scents-that-make-you-relax/>