A little peppermint can feel instantly cooling. The scent of lavender can become part of your evening wind-down. Rosemary has a crisp, herbal aroma that practically asks you to pay attention.
But what is actually happening when you breathe in an essential oil?
Understanding essential oils starts with understanding the plants they come from—and the way their aromatic compounds interact with your body.
With the launch of our Retro Remedies collection, we’re taking a closer look at that connection. Behind the playful names are thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Let’s explore the science that makes these plant oils so interesting.
What exactly is an essential oil?
Essential oils are concentrated mixtures of aromatic compounds extracted from plants. Depending on the plant, those compounds may come from flowers, leaves, fruit peels, bark, roots, or other parts.
They are often obtained through steam distillation or, in the case of many citrus oils, by mechanically expressing the peel.
The word “essential” refers to the plant’s characteristic essence or aroma. And while we call them oils, they behave differently from the fatty oils you might use for cooking or moisturizing.
One defining feature is that they are volatile: their aromatic compounds readily evaporate into the air. That is how their scent reaches your nose.
Each essential oil contains its own mixture of naturally occurring compounds. Those differences help explain why peppermint feels cooling, lavender smells soft and floral, and rosemary has that distinctive herbal sharpness.
How does a scent interact with your brain?
When you inhale an aroma, airborne molecules reach receptors inside your nose. Those receptors send signals to the olfactory bulb, which helps your brain process smell.
Smell pathways connect with brain regions involved in emotion, learning, and memory. That close relationship helps explain why a familiar scent can bring back a vivid memory or change how a moment feels.
With essential oils, researchers investigate both this sensory response and the biological activity of individual aromatic compounds.
A useful example comes from rosemary research. In a small human study, researchers detected 1,8-cineole—a compound found in rosemary oil—in participants’ blood after exposure to rosemary aroma. Its concentration was associated with performance on certain cognitive tasks.
That finding gives researchers a reason to look beyond scent preference alone and explore how inhaled plant compounds may interact with the body. It does not establish that every aroma produces the same response.
Why the way you use an oil matters
Inhalation and topical application create different kinds of exposure.
With inhalation, aromatic compounds reach the nose, activating smell pathways. Some compounds can also be absorbed through the respiratory system.
With topical application, the formulation comes into contact with the skin. Certain compounds can penetrate the skin, while others produce local sensory effects.
This matters when reading research. A study involving a diluted peppermint preparation applied to the forehead tells us about that topical method. A study involving inhaled lavender tells us about aromatic exposure.
For our Retro Remedies collection, think about where you want the support when choosing where to spray. Head Drama can be applied to the area where you feel the headache or tension, keeping it away from your eyes. For the other sprays, including Where Are My Keys, the chest is a convenient spot to enjoy the aroma, and pulse points are another option. Our personal inhalers are used by inhaling the aroma directly. Always follow the directions for your product.
Peppermint: the science behind that cooling feeling
Peppermint has a recognizable freshness, but its cooling effect has a physical explanation.
Menthol, a major constituent of peppermint oil, activates sensory receptors involved in detecting cool temperatures. That is why peppermint can create a cooling sensation even when the surrounding temperature hasn’t changed.
Researchers have also studied topical peppermint for tension headaches. In a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study, a specific peppermint oil preparation applied to the forehead and temples reduced headache intensity.
The detail worth remembering is the application: this research involved a topical preparation, rather than simply smelling peppermint.
In Retro Remedies, peppermint appears in Head Drama, Nose Job, Battery 2%, Put the Snack Down, and Cootie Control. Its crisp aroma is a common thread across blends with very different scent profiles.
Lavender: more than a bedtime favorite
Lavender is often associated with relaxation, but its research story extends beyond an evening routine.
In a small placebo-controlled trial involving 47 people with migraine, participants inhaled lavender essential oil for 15 minutes. Researchers reported a greater reduction in headache severity in the lavender group than in the control group.
It is an encouraging example of human research exploring an essential oil through inhalation, although one small trial cannot answer every question about effectiveness.
Lavender is part of both Head Drama and Don’t Hurl, bringing a soft floral note alongside their mint, citrus, and other aromatic ingredients.
Lemon: a bright aroma with nausea research behind it
Lemon essential oil deserves attention for more than its fresh scent.
A randomized trial involving 100 pregnant women investigated lemon inhalation for nausea and vomiting. Participants used the aroma when they felt nauseated, and researchers found improvements in symptom scores compared with placebo on certain study days.
This gives us a specific example of lemon aroma being studied for pregnancy-related nausea. The finding is relevant to that setting; different causes of nausea require their own research.
Lemon is one of the ingredients in Don’t Hurl, alongside spearmint, lavender, sweet orange, and ginger. It also appears in Put the Snack Down and Cootie Control.
Rosemary: an ingredient worth remembering
Rosemary’s connection with memory makes it a particularly interesting ingredient to explore.
In a study of 144 healthy adults, researchers compared exposure to rosemary aroma, lavender aroma, and no aroma. Rosemary was associated with improved performance on some memory measures, although participants were slower on another measure.
That mixed pattern matters: cognition includes several abilities, and a result in one area doesn’t automatically mean improvement across all of them.
The separate 1,8-cineole study adds another piece to the picture by examining a measurable aromatic compound alongside cognitive performance.
Rosemary features in Where Are My Keys, paired with cedarwood and vetiver for an earthy, herbal blend. It also appears in Nose Job and Cootie Control.
Sweet orange: exploring the connection between citrus and mood
A bright citrus scent can feel like a welcome change of pace. Researchers have explored that experience in controlled settings, too.
In a human study using an anxiety-provoking task, participants exposed to sweet orange aroma at certain doses showed smaller changes in measures of anxiety and tension than the control groups.
The study offers an encouraging connection between sweet orange aroma and responses to a stressful situation. Its focus was situational anxiety, rather than physical energy production.
Sweet orange appears in Battery 2%, Don’t Hurl, and Cootie Control, contributing a bright citrus note to each blend.
That “I can breathe” sensation has an explanation
Minty and eucalyptus aromas are especially recognizable when you want a fresh, cooling sensory experience.
In a study examining menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor vapors, many participants reported a cooling sensation and the feeling of improved nasal airflow. Measurements did not show a corresponding reduction in nasal airflow resistance.
That distinction helps explain the experience: the sensation of easier airflow can change even when the measured openness of the nasal passages does not.
Nose Job brings together peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, and cypress for a crisp blend of mint, herbs, and evergreen notes.
Thoughtful use is part of the routine
Essential oils are concentrated plant materials, so the formulation and directions matter.
Use each product as directed, keep sprays away from your eyes, and keep personal inhalers for your own use. For topical use, follow the product’s instructions rather than applying undiluted essential oils on your own.
A comfortable aromatic experience should feel comfortable. If a scent irritates your skin or breathing, stop using it.
Find Your Retro Remedy
Now that you’ve met some of the ingredients, meet the collection.
Each Retro Remedy comes in a spray and personal inhaler, giving you two ways to incorporate its aroma into your routine.
Head Drama
Peppermint • Lavender • Eucalyptus • Frankincense
When your head starts bringing more drama than your day can handle. From the tight-band feeling of a tension headache to those “lights off, everyone please whisper” migraine moments, this blend brings cooling peppermint and eucalyptus together with soft lavender and grounding frankincense. For tension that starts in the back of your neck, the spray lets you apply the blend right where that discomfort is making itself known.
Don’t Hurl
Spearmint • Lavender • Sweet Orange • Lemon • Ginger
When your stomach says “absolutely not” to the day’s plans. Think first-trimester queasiness, winding car rides, turbulent flights, or a tummy bug that has you keeping the nearest bowl within reach. Fresh spearmint, bright citrus, soft lavender, and warm ginger create a refreshing aroma for those “please don’t make me move” moments.
For the expecting-mama line, I’d need the finished blend’s pregnancy suitability confirmed—lemon’s morning-sickness research alone doesn’t establish that for every ingredient together.
Nose Job
Peppermint • Eucalyptus • Rosemary • Pine • Cypress
Stuffy nose? Seasonal sniffles? That miserable “my head feels like a balloon” kind of day? Meet your three-in-one upgrade. Nose Job brings together the roles of Breathe Easy, Cold Season, and Clarity in one convenient blend—covering the congestion, cold-season, allergy, and vertigo concerns that made those originals favorites. Cool mint, eucalyptus, fresh herbs, and evergreen notes make this one refreshing multitasker.
Where Are My Keys
Rosemary • Cedarwood • Vetiver
For scattered afternoons, busy mornings, and those “what did I walk into this room for?” moments. Herbal rosemary pairs with deep cedarwood and vetiver in an earthy aroma for your focus routine.
I’m Fine, Totally Fine
Spearmint • Eucalyptus
For the days when your to-do list keeps growing, the kids need you non-stop and the overwhelm is real. This simple mint-and-eucalyptus blend offers a cool, refreshing aroma to accompany a few slow breaths.
Battery 2%
Key Lime • Grapefruit • Sweet Orange • Peppermint
For the afternoon slump when you’re ready for a fresh change of pace. Bright citrus meets cool peppermint in a lively aroma with plenty of personality. Pro tip- start your day with this and you won't be relying on that cup of coffee in the same way. Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy our morning coffee because we love it and not because we are a zombie without it?
Put the Snack Down
Grapefruit • Tangerine • Lemon • Peppermint • Bergamot
For those moments when you want to pause before reaching for another snack. A bright citrus blend with a cool minty finish makes a refreshing companion to that check-in: am I hungry, bored, or simply ready for a break?
Cootie Control
Cinnamon • Clove • Eucalyptus • Rosemary • Lemon • Sweet Orange • Peppermint • Frankincense
For busy days spent out and about, especially during crud season. Warm cinnamon and clove meet fresh herbs, citrus, mint, and grounding frankincense in a bold, comforting aromatic blend. Spray on your body, clothing, or surfaces to prevent catching whatever is going around.
The names bring the personality. The plants bring a deeper story.
Explore the Retro Remedies collection and find the aromas that fit your everyday routine.