The Lingering Shadow of COVID—And the Light Aromatherapy Brings

🌍 Lingering Impacts in Canada

It’s been years since the first whispers of COVID-19 spread across Canada. Borders closed, schools and workplaces shifted, and life as we knew it changed. While the acute crisis has passed, the aftershocks are still very real.

For some, it looks like:

• A mother too exhausted from fatigue to keep up with her children.

• A professional who had to leave a beloved job because focus and energy never returned.

• A student who lost momentum at school, struggling to concentrate through constant brain fog.

• A grandparent who still feels short of breath climbing the stairs.

Statistics Canada’s most recent report shows that by mid-2023:

Two-thirds of Canadian adults had been infected with COVID at least once.

Nearly 1 in 5 experienced long-term symptoms lasting 3+ months.

Over 2 million Canadians were still living with those symptoms—most often fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety.

Among those impacted, 600,000 Canadians missed school or work -- for the average of more than 24 days, and ~100,000 have not been able to return at all.

💔 Lingering fatigue. 🧠 Mental fog that makes it hard to focus. 😞 Anxiety and low mood that rob joy and connection.

This is the reality many people are quietly carrying.

😷 My Personal Story with Long COVID

These aren’t just numbers for me—they’ve been my lived reality.

When I contracted COVID, I experienced months of long-term symptoms:

😷 Loss of my sense of smell (devastating as an aromatherapist)

😷 Extreme tiredness that left me sleeping far more than usual

😷 Loss of focus that made even small tasks difficult

😷 Shortness of breath walking or climbing the steps in my own home

😷 Grief as my beloved sister’s health was rapidly deteriorating and government restrictions prevented me from being able to travel to the US to take care of her.

For months, I lived with the fear that I might never fully recover and that my sister might die without me being by her side.

Another great source of anxiety was my loss of smell. For an aromatherapist, the sense of smell is more than personal—it’s essential. I remember lying awake at night, wondering: If I cannot smell, how can I continue this work I love? How can I guide others with confidence if I can’t even connect to the oils myself?

It was frightening and humbling. And yet—slowly, steadily—the symptoms eased. My sense of smell returned. The fatigue lifted. My breath came back. I could climb my stairs again without fear.

That journey gave me a deeper understanding of what so many others are still carrying: the fear, the uncertainty, and the longing for tools that bring hope.

👃 Aromatherapy for Loss of Smell (Smell Training)

One of the most profound challenges for many people after COVID is the loss of smell (anosmia) or the distortion of smell (parosmia).

But an effective, highly successful protocol is available! Smell Training.

Smell training is a gentle but powerful process of retraining the nose and brain to recognize scents again. It works by repeatedly inhaling a small set of familiar essential oils—like rose, lemon, eucalyptus, or clove—while focusing on the memory or image of that scent.

🧪The Science (Simplified)

·         Inside your nose are tiny receptor cells that pick up scent molecules and send signals to your brain.

·         These signals pass through the olfactory bulb, which links directly to the limbic system—the brain’s center for memory and emotions.

·         After COVID, those smell pathways can be damaged, which is why scents may feel faint, missing, or distorted.

·         The good news? Smell cells are one of the few nerve cells that can regrow.

·         Repeated, mindful exposure gives your brain and nose a chance to reconnect the damaged nerve cells and neural pathways, and “re-learn” how to process smells.

✨ In short: smell training is like rehab for your sense of smell—helping to rebuild those connections until they become strong again.

For me personally, the return of smell was the turning point in my recovery. It reminded me that healing is possible, and it deepened my empathy for those still on this journey.

🌹  Where Aromatherapy Steps In

Here’s the good news: while aromatherapy can’t erase COVID, it can support the body, mind, and spirit in profound ways. These daily rituals help people breathe easier, sleep deeper, and restore hope.

🧠 For Mental Fatigue & Brain Fog

Essential Oils:

·         Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

·         Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)

·         Lemon (Citrus limon)

💡 How to use: Diffuse peppermint while working at your desk, or blend rosemary with lemon in an inhaler you can slip into your pocket. These oils are known for increasing alertness, clarity, and memory support.

😞 For Lingering Anxiety & Low Mood

Essential Oils:

·         Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

·         Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

💡 How to use: Try a simple hand massage with lavender-infused cream before bed, or diffuse bergamot during the day. Research shows these oils can lower cortisol, calm the nervous system, and support deeper rest.

🌬 For Breath & Energy

Essential Oils:

·         Eucalyptus radiata

·         Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. cineole)

💡 How to use: Add a few drops to a bowl of steaming water and inhale gently. While not a cure, these oils can help ease the chest and bring a sense of open space.

💖 For Grief & Reconnection

Essential Oils:

·         Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

·         Rose (Rosa damascena)

💡 How to use: Diffuse in meditation, or add a drop to a carrier oil and anoint the heart center. These oils help anchor us back to presence, lift the spirit, and remind us that healing is as emotional as it is physical.

💖 Why We Need Heart-Centered Aromatherapists

The statistics tell us the need is urgent. My own story tells me the need is personal. The fear of not being able to continue in my life’s work—and the relief when I could again—showed me just how deeply we need practitioners who combine skill with soul.

This is why I created the BelArôme WholeHeart Aromatherapist™ Program.

It’s not just about learning oils—it’s about learning how to be present, grounded, and compassionate in the face of what your clients are truly carrying.

Inside the program, you’ll find:

·         Advanced Clinical Aromatherapy Training (500 hours): Understand the chemistry, safety, and therapeutic uses of essential oils in an evidence-based way.

·         The WholeHeart Space™ (50 hours): A sanctuary for your growth as a practitioner—through guided HeartMath sessions, meditation, reflection, and case practice.

·         Real-life applications: Practice creating blends and protocols for real-world issues like post-COVID anxiety, fatigue, and grief.

Our world doesn’t just need aromatherapists—it needs Heart-Centered Aromatherapists who combine knowledge with compassion.

🌟 A Final Thought

The numbers may be sobering: millions of Canadians still struggling years after the pandemic, many without the care they need. But behind those numbers is a profound opportunity: to step forward as a healer who sees the whole person, not just the symptom.

If you’ve ever felt the call to make a difference through aromatherapy, now is the time. The world is still healing. Your hands, your heart, and your presence can be part of that healing.

👉 Learn more about the BelArôme WholeHeart Aromatherapist™ Program and discover how you can step into this role—with confidence, clarity, and heart.

👉Our Autumn Program begins on September 28, 2025.

👉 Read about the BelArôme WholeHeart Aromatherapist™ Program here.

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