PAGE 14 || LIFESTYLES
ESSENTIAL OILS IN CLASSROOMS
What are the effects of essential oils on students’ learning?
HOLLY MCDONALD
STAFF WRITER
A calming scent of lavender fills the
classroom air, leaving a pleasant smell.
Freshman Evie Ansari takes a deep breath,
inhaling the fresh scent of the room. Ansari
enjoys having essential oils in classrooms,
especially because it helps improve her
learning experience by giving her focus.
According to Ansari, teachers who
diffuse essential oils in their classrooms
can help to create a positive learning
environment for students.
“I think that it’s a good idea for
teachers to use essential oils,” Ansari said.
“Especially on test days, oils help students
de-stress or concentrate depending on the
kind that’s being used.”
Although essential oils can improve a
student’s time in class, science teacher Mrs.
Jaclyn Smith stresses that teachers must be
aware that artificial scents can be distracting
and disrupt learning for some students.
“One particular scent I used once was a
little too strong, and some of the students
didn’t like it, so I replaced it with a more
neutral scent,” Mrs. Smith said. “I always
tell my classes if they don’t like it, to let me
know, or that they can feel free to turn it
off.”
While some scents can be overpowering,
using scents that have a fresh smell can
provide a welcoming environment.
“Lavender, lemongrass and lemon are a
pleasant and gentle blend,” Spanish teacher
Ms. Beth East said. “Lavender is calming,
while lemongrass is uplifting and pleasant.”
Freshman Taylor Nadjarian has specific
scents that she doesn’t enjoy, which can
even interrupt her from learning.
“I don’t like strong fruity scents.
Artificial fruity smells aren’t very appealing
to me,” Nadjarian said. “Some teachers will
A diffuser is used in a classroom while students work. Photo by Holly McDonald.
use too strong or artificial scents that give my
classmates and me headaches.”
Although there may be a few scents that
aren’t the best for a classroom, there are
plenty of scents that students do enjoy.
“I think that lavender is a great oil for the
classroom,” Ansari said. “Lavender is a nice
smelling oil that most people enjoy and it
also is very calming.”
Essential oils aren’t only being used at
classrooms within RHS. Mrs. Foutz, a history
teacher at West Middle School, an RHS
feeder school, shares her experience with
using a diffuser in her classroom.
“I have had positive comments about the
scents in my classroom, and it’s very least I
do to make my classroom feel welcoming,”
Mrs. Foutz said. “While I am not sure that
the oils help students focus or feel better, I
think that students definitely can focus better
in a room that feels welcoming.”
Mrs. Foutz uses peppermint and lemon as
her go-to scents. She believes that they help
create a nice environment for her classroom.
“Peppermint is said to help clear the
mind, and I feel that students have a lot
going on in their lives,” Mrs. Foutz said.
“I want my classroom to be a place where
students can focus and peppermint is said
to help with this. Lemon is another oil that
I use because I find it to be energizing and
uplifting. Sometimes I mix the two together.”
Some students who use a diffuser at
home also enjoy having essential oils in their
classrooms.
“My mom and I use essential oils for our
health and well-being,” Ansari said. “We also
diffuse oils to purify the air in our house.”
Nadjarian also likes to use essential oils
at home and has scents that she prefers to
use the most. She enjoys these scents in her
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2018
classrooms as well.
“I have two diffusers at home that I use
with many essential oils,” Nadjarian said. “I
use eucalyptus and lavender the most.”
Essential oils may enhance learning in
students. Freshman Katie Gould shares her
thoughts on teachers using a diffuser.
“I think essential oils are helpful and
make it easier to learn,” Gould said. “But if
the scent is too strong, I find it difficult to
focus or concentrate.”
Some teachers only have artificial light in
their classrooms, so their rooms don’t have
a natural feel compared to other classrooms
that have sunlight shining in. Using essential
oils can help bring “fresh air” and a more
natural feel to a classroom.
“I don’t have any windows,” Mrs.
Smith said. “So I’ll use them whenever my
classroom gets a little stuffy.”
Ms. East has been using essential oils in
her classroom every day, during all hours,
for almost four years. Ever since she’s began
using essential oils, she has noticed that they
help bring a positive atmosphere into her
classroom.
“The fresh scent, paired with the bright
decorations of my classroom and the bird
feeder outside makes for a pretty positive
learning experience,” Ms. East said.
Some teachers won’t use their diffusers
for the whole day. It will depend on the
situation or time of the day.
“We start school so early,” Mrs. Foutz
said. “So in the morning, the lemon and
peppermint combination is a nice way to
start the day.”
As a student, Gould prefers to start the
day with essential oils.
“I like to have them in the morning,”
Gould said. “It’s nice when I’m still tired and
Benefits of essential oils
Lemon - used to improve concentration and is a mood
enhancer
Peppermint - sharpens focus, enhances alertness and boosts
energy
Lavender - used for stress relief and an antidepressant
Eucalyptus - increases concentration
Cinnimon - boosts brain function and reduces stress
it wakes me up.”
Teachers who have used more neutral
scents have never seen any adverse effects
with their essential oils.
“I dilute the oils and have not had
complaints of headaches,” Mrs. Foutz said.
“Also, none of my students have recorded
allergies to any of the oils that I use. If a
student comments on the smell I do ask if
it is bothering them because I realize that
some students are sensitive to perfumes and
odors.”
Not every teacher uses essential oils
in their classrooms but Gould would like
diffusers to become more widespread among
her classes.
“I think it would be a really great idea for
more teachers to use essential oils,” Gould
said. “[Oils] help students learn in a new and
refreshing way.”
From a teacher’s perspective, Mrs. Foutz
understands that students may be sensitive
to the smell of essential oils. She believes
that as long as teachers are aware, often it is a
great idea to use them more.
“I think that if teachers use oils in their
classroom they should be sure to be mindful
of students with sensitivities to odors and
willing to stop if there are complaints,” Mrs.
Foutz said. “I definitely support teachers
creating an environment in which students
feel comfortable and welcome, so if oils help
to create a better classroom environment, I
support that.”
Ansari also hopes to have more
classrooms with essential oils, as she finds
them beneficial to her learning.
“I really think that using oils in the
classroom helps me and others in many
ways,” Ansari said. “I think it will create a
great atmosphere for students.”