Hypnosis, at least as used in the office, often incorporates guided imagery. A patient or client is invited to visualize a place or situation for helpful purposes, shifting their perspective or adjusting their outlook.
Re-reading those first two sentences, I found the words “imagery” and “visualize” to be pretty essential. “Perspective” and “outlook” are critical, too. It isn’t easy even to describe hypnosis without invoking the sense of sight. It’s not hard to comprehend why—we rely on sight to understand the world around us, to find the things we need and avoid the things that might harm us, and to understand the non-verbal signals that others communicate through body language. When we see something, we are able to learn about it even from a safe distance. There are many examples of this relationship in the very terms we use for the processes of knowledge and discovery: seeing, illumination, uncovering, reflecting, and so on. But our other senses can be, in their own ways, at least as powerful as sight.
Importance of the Sense of Smell
The sense of smell, in particular, evokes associations and memories, and can lead to changes in our moods and levels of alertness even if we are not consciously aware of an odor. Some hotels, for example, create “signature scents” which they diffuse through their HVAC systems, setting up subtle connections that make us want to keep coming back. Maybe you have had the experience of noticing a smell and having a distinct memory of a childhood impression. One that I’ve come across a few times is a particular grapey smell that takes me straight back to the dentist’s office in Denver, Colorado.
The power of smell (technically called olfaction) may become clearer when you understand some of its science. Smell was the earliest sense to evolve; even on an individual level, it is the first to mature. The sense of smell develops during the second trimester, and an infant can recognize their mother by smell within a few days after birth. The neurology of olfactory function is complex and incompletely understood. However, when a particle of inhaled material contacts an olfactory receptor at the top of the nasal cavity, an electrical signal goes straight to the olfactory bulb, which is directly connected to the brain’s amygdala (emotion) and hippocampus (memory) regions. (Yes, that means that you are in physical contact, in some tiny way, with whatever you are smelling!)
Using Scent in Hypnosis
There isn’t a term for “guided scent associations,” at least as far as I know. (If any reader is aware of one, please tell me!) But this kind of suggestion can also be integral to hypnosis, quickly bringing to mind an entire setting. Some providers incorporate essential oils into hypnosis sessions, but even without a fragrance on hand, talking about a scent can quickly bring a person more deeply into an imagined or remembered experience.
Just the other day, I was getting to know a new patient, who told me that some of her happiest times are when she goes shopping with her aunt. She had a terrific beginning to her hypnosis session by imagining the first sniff of air-conditioned air wafting toward her as she opened the door to a boutique. That was a delightful new scent to add to my repertoire! Some of the distinctive location smells that have come up relatively often include:
- A basketball court
- A skating rink
- A library
- A beach
- A park with newly mown grass
- A path through the woods
What aromas do you associate with feeling happy, safe, or content? Next time you encounter one, I encourage you to take extra-attentive, enjoyable breaths. You might imagine storing that smell, maybe even in an imaginary bottle that you put into an imaginary pocket, so you always know where to find it. Then, whenever you want a reminder of that happy, safe, or content feeling, you can take a breath of the stored-up scent and notice how a hint of that feeling begins to grow.