Can you still remember the perfume your mother used to wear? That very special scent that still instantly takes you back in time and into her arms, making you feel safe and protected? Or that smell of fresh rain on gray asphalt, which only happens in summer, when the feeling of carefreeness accompanies us through warm nights and wakes up next to us in the morning?
If there were an essence of life, it would probably be scents. They are our favorite people and favorite flowers, they are that place of longing somewhere in the south, they are the freshly brewed coffee with which the day begins. And for this very reason, this essence of life is also the essence of our products – not just a scent, but a feeling that goes under the skin.
The power of natural fragrances
The special effect is provided by the essential oils we use in all our products. These are natural fragrances produced by plants to attract insects or defend against pathogens. We humans extract the fragrant essence from the plant using different extraction methods, such as steam distillation, pressing, or extraction. It is especially important that the oils are obtained exclusively from the respective source plant – without the addition of similarly scented, usually cheaper oils or even synthetic additives. Only then may they bear the designation "100% pure natural essential oil."
We also use these pure natural oils for our Hello Sue products and take advantage of their special healing effect. This occurs on a total of three levels: the body, the mind, and the soul. This is due to the many different biochemical ingredients of the plant, which together are responsible for the holistic effect of the essential oils. Since the ingredients are naturally composed individually depending on the plant, different effects also result. They have various properties, such as antibacterial & anti-inflammatory effects, revitalizing or regenerating effects. These make them so special for skin care. In addition, there are essential oils that relax and balance your senses, while others have a mood-enhancing and stimulating effect.
Photo by @maggymelzer
Your sense of smell and its influence on your well-being
But how do essential oils actually manage to unfold this holistic effect and even stimulate our senses? The answer is actually quite simple: through our sense of smell. Because everything we perceive through it is immediately forwarded to one of the oldest regions of our brain, the limbic system. While other sensory stimuli pass through various brain areas, such as the cerebrum and thus our consciousness, this happens with smells without detours – meaning without us consciously perceiving it.
But what exactly is the limbic system, and what are its functions? In summary, these are mainly archaic, very primitive bodily functions such as human drive behavior, but also feelings and emotions. By the various scent molecules from the essential oils being absorbed through our nasal mucous membranes and transmitted by the olfactory nerve to the limbic system, they can influence our mood and feelings, regulate hormone production, or, as already indicated at the beginning, evoke memories that were associated with this particular scent at an earlier time. As you can see, scents can promote very different positive processes inside you. And if we are aware of this, we can use those scents specifically to increase our own well-being in certain situations and emotional states.
Despite these wonderful properties, opinions about essential oils are often strongly polarized. Because even though it is a natural product, essential oils can sometimes cause unwanted side effects. This mainly happens when the oils are used in high concentrations. Of course, we are aware of these possible side effects and therefore always adhere to the limit values of the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) in the concentrations in our products. In addition, the skin compatibility of our products has been tested by a qualified dermatologist from a scientific institute and rated as very good. So you don't have to worry that the essential oils contained in our products are harmful to your health – and can instead enjoy their wonderful effect on body and mind!
The valuable properties of essential oils and their holistic effect make this natural product the essence of our oils. We see them as a kind of foundation that you can use to bring body and mind into harmony. And we hope that they help you to integrate more appreciation for your own well-being into your everyday life. Perhaps this is even the beginning of a wonderful journey to yourself – together with Hello Sue.
