Photo: Miranda Kerr/Instagram
Everyone goes through heartbreak and disappointment at some point in life. It will hurt, and you will find yourself doing what you need to feel like yourself again, whether it is poring over self-help books, giving yourself a makeover, or drowning your sorrows in a tub of ice cream. If you are supermodel Miranda Kerr, you will seek help from your aromatherapist (yep, you read that right. That’s aromatherapist, not therapist).
When she split with her ex-husband Orlando Bloom in 2013 in a highly publicised divorce, it was said that she fell into a deep depression. That’s when the supermodel decided to reach out to her aromatherapist in Australia who worked with her to concoct a blend of essential oils including rose otto, sandalwood, ylang ylang and cedarwood to transform her mood and uplift her spirits. That was how her brand’s Heart Chakra Aromatherapy Oil was born. Miranda loved it so much, she even included it in the new additions to her Kora Organics line which is now available at Sephora. (Here’s a review of some of the best sellers from her line).
Speaking to the American media, Miranda explained that the oil “contains rose quartz and has rose otta, which really helps open your heart and mind and really invoke feelings of love and happiness. It also has sandalwood, a grounding oil, which helps you feel centred and balanced. Then there’s ylang-ylang, which they say is known to create a feeling of joy and hope. And cedarwood, which helps mental focus and vitality.”
The baby-faced beauty also added that she “use(s) this oil throughout the day and as (her) actual fragrance because it smells divine” and “it feels like you’re getting a hug. That’s the closest thing I can compare it to.” Like with all the products in her Kora beauty line, the Heart Chakra Aromatherapy oil was filtered through a rose quartz crystal and is used to activate the heart chakra so “you’re more willing to give and receive love.”
It might sound a little hokey and all smokes and mirrors but many swear by the energising, soothing and antidepressant effects of essential oils. In fact, there have been numerous clinical trials which prove that essential oils can help to elevate mood.
The science of smells
Scents, be it the essential oils or the perfume that you use can be very powerful in your day to day life because the olfactory system is a direct pathway to memory and emotion – which explains why aromatherapy can help to fight feelings of unhappiness and anxiety.
Smells are carried directly to the brain and can serve as emotional triggers. The limbic system then evaluates the sensory stimuli which direct our emotional response, which can include feelings of happiness and attraction.
State of mind
I’ve been using this heart chakra aromatherapy oil for about a month now and I would apply it on my pulse points, behind my ears and over my heart chakra (right in the centre if the chest) before taking a deep breathe to take it all in. I love the scent of this essential oil. It smells feminine, warm and very comforting. Also unlike traditional essential oils that come in tiny glass bottles, the Kora Heart Chakra Aromatherapy oil comes in an elegant rollerball dispenser, so you can keep it in your purse and use it in place of your perfume. The oil is also free from nasties like harmful sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, colouring, silicones, PEGs, glycols, ethoxylate and formaldehyde so it’s great if you have sensitive skin.
So did it “invoke, nurture and empower the energies of (my) heart chakra” as its packaging promises? Well, I can’t say for sure. But I think that with self-care products like this, if you believe in the emotional power of the product, that’s all that matters. It’s just like the belief that wearing red lipstick can boost your confidence. Because I did believe in the healing and therapeutic effects of the heart chakra – I was able to feel some effects. This was especially helpful in helping me to relax and reduce stress. I would apply this on wrists when I feel like I’m overwhelmed with work or even during uncomfortable social situations and I will feel much better.
The only downside? It does come with quite a hefty price tag ($65) and the scent isn’t very long lasting so you’ll have to reapply it throughout the day.
If you’re going to a heartbreak or a tough time, there’s no harm in giving the humble bottle of aromatherapy oil a shot. Or you could start dating a tech billionaire, whatever works.
