» Aromatherapy

Prolitec Brings Aromatherapy to Assisted-Living Communities Nationwide

airsense — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:30:07 +0000

Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ Offers New Technology for Community Health and Wellness Programs

MILWAUKEE, WI–(Marketwire – March 1, 2011) – From ancient times to the present day, people have relied on natural scents like lavender, verbena and jasmine to help them achieve states of calm, alertness and well-being. Now, with the launch of its Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ system, Prolitec, Inc. (www.prolitec.com) makes it possible to do this for an entire assisted-living community, enhancing the experience of residents and staff, and making positive impressions on visitors.

ATMOSPHERES™ is a computer-controlled, fully-automated system that works through the HVAC system or from appliances mounted on walls, in or above ceilings or on tabletops to maintain a controlled, light level of a natural aromatherapy scent throughout the common areas. The system is fully supported by Prolitec with onsite periodic service and requires no staff involvement.

Natural scents include blends of chamomile, aromatic lavender and other complementary and proprietary ingredients. Their proven benefits can also be brought to individual resident rooms through the Air/Q™ Whole Room Air Freshener™, a sleek, miniaturized version of Prolitec’s commercial scenting technology that is small enough to rest on a tabletop.

“There is a body of scientific literature illustrating the remarkable ability of natural fragrances to impact mood and cognitive function,” noted Richard Weening, CEO of Prolitec. “Aromatherapy and the use of scent to achieve an outcome has become an important part of holistic health and wellness programs. According to a Duke University study, for example, the scent of lavender relaxed participants every bit as much as a physical massage. These potentially therapeutic benefits make Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ a natural fit for the assisted-living industry.”

The industrywide launch of Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ follows 18 months of testing in more than 50 assisted-living facilities, including most of the communities of Aegis Living, a national leader in retirement and assisted living.

Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ is “green” and fully compliant with the stringent regulatory requirements of OSHA and the state of California, Weening added. “Prolitec’s patented micro-droplet technology creates a uniform scent effect with a bare minimum of product — less than 1 molecule out of every 1 million molecules in the air,” he explained. “In addition to using far less product, this very small amount of scent is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive residents.”

Typically, in fact, residents are exposed to far higher amounts of scented product — up to 100 times greater — from the likes of restroom deodorizers, aerosols and plug-in air fresheners. These relatively inefficient products also tend to be more expensive when used in an assisted-living or retirement setting, Weening added.

Through the Air/Q ATMOSPHERES™ program, Prolitec offers a wide range of broadly appealing aromatherapy fragrances that can be customized for the specific requirements of clients based on the proven benefits of this ancient science. The unique adjustability of the Air/Q system also provides an additional layer of customization. “The result is a transformed atmosphere that improves the overall experience of residents, staff and visitors,” Weening said.

About Prolitec

Prolitec (www.prolitec.com) develops and provides innovative airborne technologies for infection control, odor cancellation, and the use of scent for positive emotional and physiological experiences. The company’s technologies are employed by retailers, hotels, casinos, fitness centers, spas, healthcare facilities, and other institutional and commercial facilities in the U.S. and 46 countries around the world.

Tagged: Aegis Living, Air/Q, Ambient Scenting, Aromatherapy, Assisted Living, Health, Hospitals, People and Companies, Prolitec, Technology, Trends

Aegis Living Selects Prolitec for Aromatherapy Service to Senior Living Communities

airsense — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:25:20 +0000

REDMOND, WA — 03/10/10 — As part of its continuing effort to enhance the lives of residents in its retirement and assisted living communities, Aegis Living (www.aegisliving.com) has selected Prolitec Inc. (www.prolitec.com) to introduce aromatherapy to public areas in all 35 of its senior living facilities in Washington, California and Nevada.Following an initial installation in the new Aegis of Bellevue (Wash.) community, the Redmond-based company contracted with Prolitec to roll out the systems to the remainder of its communities over the course of 2010, with several installations now under way. The systems from Milwaukee-based Prolitec will condition the air in lobbies and hallways with tiny amounts of a scent created especially for Aegis.

Aegis’ scent, called ‘Serene,’ is a blend of chamomile, aromatic lavender and other complementary and proprietary ingredients. Chamomile reduces stress and anxiety and is used to treat insomnia, while lavender relaxes the body. According to a Duke University study, the scent of lavender relaxed participants as much as a massage.

Depending on the community’s mechanical system, Aegis’ proprietary scent will be dispersed in the designated common areas through a variety of HVAC or wall-mounted delivery systems from Prolitec. As the program evolves, residents will also be given the opportunity to have aromatherapy in their individual units through Prolitec’s Air/Q Whole Room (www.airq.com) system for an additional monthly charge.

“Already known as one of the premier operators of retirement and assisting living communities, Aegis is taking another step forward in raising the standards for better senior living with the introduction of aromatherapy,” said Richard Weening, CEO of Prolitec. “The scent that we developed for them will make residents feel better and they don’t have to do anything, just breathe in the air.”

“Prolitec is the technology leader in the safe and sensible use of scent in public spaces,” added Jerry Meyer, COO of Aegis. “We chose Prolitec because they have a customer-focused, high-standards culture like Aegis and they understand the special requirements of senior communities.”

About Prolitec

Prolitec (www.prolitec.com) is a world leader in the development and deployment of innovative air-treatment and air care technologies including odor control, ambient scenting, aromatherapy and the use of scent as a medium of communication. Clients include retailers, hotels, casinos and other commercial organizations in the U.S. and in 20 countries around the world. Prolitec’s Aerobiology and Infection Control Unit develops human-safe and green systems for controlling pests and killing airborne and surface bacteria and viruses.

About Aegis Living

Aegis Living is a national leader in retirement and assisted living, offering a progressive selection of senior residences to meet the growing needs of today’s aging population. Providing the finest in senior lifestyle and living options available, “We are the people who make life better” emphasizes health, quality of life, well being and community. Aegis Living is guided by a simple philosophy: strive to treat all people with the highest possible standards. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, privately held Aegis Living operates 35 communities in Washington, California and Nevada. Additional information about Aegis Living and its services are available at www.AegisLiving.com. Follow us on Twitter @twitter.com/aegisliving and Facebook at http://bit.ly/OUNyR.

Smelling the coffee just might be enough

airsense — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:29:25 +0000

A recent study of sleep-deprived rats found that the mere aroma of coffee reduced the neurological effects of the sleep deprivation. Specifically, when the rats were deprived of sleep for one day, the researchers noted reduced mRNA levels in their brains, and therefore suppression of 11 genes that are particularly important to brain function. Smelling the coffee resulted in restoration of the mRNA levels, and re-expression of 9 of the 11 genes. It’s not known whether the same mechanism is at work in humans, but we’re certainly all hoping so.

To learn more, see Effects of Coffee Bean Aroma on the Rat Brain Stressed by Sleep Deprivation: A Selected Transcript- and 2D Gel-Based Proteome Analysis, by Han-Seok Seo, Misato Hirano, Junko Shibato, Randeep Rakwal, Kyeong Hwang, and Yoshinori Masuo. (2008). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Jun 3.

Via New Scientist, with a nod to the Neurocritic.

Pentel adds scent to pencils

airsense — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:42:27 +0000

Pentel is offering a line of pencils with scented lead, using “nanobead” encapsulation technology. The nanobeads break open as you write, releasing subtle scents of green tea, rose or rosemary. Essential oils are used, and because they’re encapsulated in the lead, they maintain their aromatic quality for up to two years. The pencils, named Ain Supplio, won the Stationery of the Year Award at Tokyo’s International Stationery and Office Products Fair last year. Read more at Inventorspot

L.A. Times reviews science of aromatherapy

airsense — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:42:55 +0000

And while we’re on the subject of aromatherapy, let me tell you about an article that appeared last week in the L.A. Times, entitled “Aromatherapy is in your head, not your nose.” The gist, as you might guess, is that aromatherapy is only as effective as the marketing campaign that promotes it.

The article includes quotes from an interview with Monell scientist Charles Wysocki, who says “smells don’t have a magic ability to alter mood or physiology.” However, the article also points out that scientific studies on aromatherapy are mixed. Cited is last year’s Japanese study, which found that lavender and rosemary aromas reduced stress hormones in saliva, as well as the recent study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, which showed that lemon improved mood, but that there were no psysiological effects whatsoever from lemon or lavender. Apparently some of the subjects in the study believed in the effectiveness of aromatherapy, however, and the results of the study did not change their mind. In other words, as Wysocki points out, aromatherapy that works is aromatherapy that “comes with a very effective marketing campaign.”

Read the entire article in the L.A. Times

Study examines effect of aromatherapy

airsense — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:14:37 +0000

On the heels of the Dutch orange study, a recent study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology looked at the aromatherapeutic effects of lemon and lavender. Results indicate that the scent of lemon has a positive effect on mood, while lavender has no mood-altering effects. No physiological effects were seen from either scent. The study looked for responses on the immune system, blood pressure, wound healing and pain control, finding no effect.

Dr. Roshini Raj of NYU Medical Center was interviewed about the study on a recent episode of CBS’ The Early Show. Her thoughts on the study? Effectiveness on mood is important, and anything that relieves stress can be good for healing, but don’t abandon seeking medical care.

Watch an except from the show or read more at CBSnews.com

Orange aroma calms criminals in Dutch jails

airsense — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:30:53 +0000

A jail in the Netherlands recently conducted an ambient scenting study using the aroma of oranges. During the four-week study, in which the scent was dispersed through the jail’s air vents, police reported a dramatic reduction in fighting among the inmates. Rotterdam, which has the highest violent crime rate in the country, was the location of the study.

Subliminal scents more likely to affect perception

airsense — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:10:00 +0000

Marketeers using scent to influence customers’ moods will be interested to know that the heavy-handed approach is probably less effective. Northwestern University researches have found evidence that suggests subliminal scents are more likely to influence behavior than stronger scents. Subjects in the study were asked to sniff three different scents: lemon, sweat and a neutral scent. After each whiff, they’d look at a picture of a face and evaluate it on a scale of likability. The scents varied in strength. It turned out that those who sniffed the scents that were barely perceptible were swayed in their judgments of the face, while those who were aware of the scents weren’t influenced at all. Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times and The Economist

Help with the Holidays

airsense — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:42:00 +0000

In case you’re having trouble getting in the mood for all the parties this holiday season, there’s a new aromatic therapy available. California-based company Aromatherapy Interventions has created a “Holiday Therapy” line of scented candles to help keep you up all night and in the mood to party. The candles are aptly named “All Nighter” and “Extro-Version.”

Availability of scented products on the rise

airsense — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:52:00 +0000

PC Magazine has done an interesting review of a variety of scenting devices on the market. Products reviewed include scented USB drives, scented phones and phone cases, aromatherapy alarm clocks, USB oil burners, scented LED lights, scented pens, and a variety of other scent diffusers. More at PC Magazine