Floral scents: Melt stress

Rising humidity, daily temperature fluxes and a list of to-do’s can tax adrenal glands, increasing their production of the stress hormone cortisol and leaving you edgy. To melt away stress in as little as 2 minutes, gently rub the inside of a flower petal and breathe in the lovely scent it releases. Japanese scientists say when flower petals are touched, they produce chemicals (volatile organic compounds) that lower cortisol output and relax tense muscles, plus stimulate the production of a brain hormone (GABA) that acts as a powerful, natural tranquilizer.