Interview with Chiara & Roberto: The Essence of Emotions

How smell reaches the emotional brain and reshapes inner balance

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1. Chiara and Roberto, how did the idea of combining your professional experiences into a shared well-being project come about?

“By comparing psychosomatics with Ayurvedic philosophy, we realized they describe the same phenomena using different names.

So we decided to combine our strengths to offer people an integrated, innovative approach that works on all levels — physical, emotional, and energetic.”

2. During your events, you explain that scents don’t act only at a perceptual level, but also on the emotional and physical plane.

From a neuroscientific perspective, how do you explain the link between an odor and a bodily sensation — for example, ‘in the stomach’ or ‘in the heart’?

“The brain area that processes smell is directly connected to the limbic system, which regulates emotions (amygdala) and memory (hippocampus). That’s why memories triggered by a scent are so vivid and immediate.

A study by Rockefeller University showed that people remember 35% of what they smell, compared to 5% of what they see, 2% of what they hear, and 1% of what they touch. Neuromarketing research also shows that 75% of the emotions we experience are triggered by scents.

Smell is the only sense that bypasses the thalamus — the brain’s sensory relay station. Olfactory signals go straight to the limbic system. The amygdala links odors to emotional responses like pleasure, disgust, or nostalgia. The hippocampus connects scents to autobiographical memories. And the insula and cingulate cortex integrate olfactory signals with visceral sensations — the ‘tightness in the stomach’ or ‘warmth in the chest.’”

3. Some of the oils you use have very specific effects: Aborigen as a revitalizer after stress or shock, Aromiss for memory, Tim-Tim for concentration, Ultralimon for mental clarity.

How do you decide which scent to recommend to someone?

“Essential oils are usually chosen based on the person’s specific concern, or through an aromatest.

We start with an intake interview to explore allergies or contraindications. Then, depending on the main issue, we may prescribe a targeted oil and evaluate the body’s response after a month.

During an aromatest — performed according to a precise protocol — we explore different areas of a person’s life to identify the most critical one. We then let the person smell specific oils and, based on their reaction, define a personalized therapy to be monitored regularly.

Essential oils are also very effective during psychotherapy sessions: they help emotional processing and facilitate access to the unconscious.”

4. What usually happens when someone breathes in a scent deeply for the first time? Do you observe immediate physical or emotional reactions?

“Because of what we explained in question 2, reactions — whether physical or emotional — are often immediate. The important thing is to smell the oil for just a few seconds, before the rational mind intervenes.

In our experience, we’ve seen all kinds of responses: a vivid memory resurfacing, an unexpected emotion, or even rejection of a specific scent.”

5. Beyond scent, your work includes psycho-corporeal pathways.

Can you describe the five-session journey you offer?

“We created packages of 5 sessions tailored to the client’s needs. Each session lasts one hour.

• Initial intake session with Chiara + a guided body relaxation.

• Three Ayurvedic treatments with Roberto, each ending with a personalized herbal tea.

• Final session with Chiara + mind-body relaxation.

All options are available on our website: https://www.robertointravaia.it/homepage/

Chiara’s relaxation technique is based on active contraction and release — the first phase of ‘distensione immaginativa,’ created by Dr. Piero Parietti.

This phase has two key elements:

• releasing muscular tension to allow emotional tension to release as well;

• accessing the deep reservoir of inner images, which are a source of personal energy.

The relaxation obtained through this technique enhances the effect of the Ayurvedic treatments.”

6. Roberto, you offer three Ayurvedic treatments.

How do they work, and how do they integrate with scent and energetic balance?

“As mentioned earlier, the packages combine these elements for clarity.

Ayurvedic massage is an ancient holistic practice originating in India about 5,000 years ago. It is one of the tools of Ayurveda — the ‘science of longevity’ — and uses different manual techniques to restore balance between mind and body.

The massage involves rubbing, gentle pressure, and slow movements, often using oils enriched with essential oils. These oils, absorbed through the skin and inhaled, enhance the treatment’s effectiveness.

The goal is to rebalance the three doshas — the energies that govern the body.

When these energies are unbalanced, emotional and physical disturbances may arise. By stimulating the body’s energy centers, Ayurvedic massage improves blood and lymphatic circulation, restoring harmony and supporting overall health.”

7. Your sessions have a strong experiential and sensory component.

How do people usually react when they realize they can ‘feel’ with greater intensity through body awareness and conscious use of aroma?

“People who come to our sessions are generally already inclined toward well-being, so they tend to be curious and eager to broaden their knowledge.

We often see initial skepticism transform into curiosity and a desire to explore by the end of the evening. This makes us proud and motivates us to continue.”

8. The essences you use — such as Damarosa for serenity or Tim-Tim for low mood — act on multiple levels.

Based on your experience, do scents work first on the mind or the body?

“It’s difficult to draw a sharp line between mind and body, since both our disciplines are holistic.

Essential oils can be used in many ways: environmental diffusion, topical application, foot baths, warm baths, or direct inhalation.

For example, an emotional issue such as anxiety can be addressed through any of these methods. If instead the goal is strictly physical — like soothing dermatitis or a burn — topical use is preferred.”

9. Finally, if you had to summarize your philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?

“Listen to the body, because it is the language of the soul. The body is not just matter — it is a subtle messenger that reflects emotions, thoughts, and inner imbalances. Ayurveda teaches that every symptom is a call for harmony, and psychosomatics reminds us that every unexpressed emotion finds its way into the body to be heard.”

Conclusion

In the work of Chiara and Roberto, scent and touch become tools for inner exploration. Each essence is a form of language; each treatment, a moment of deep listening.

In an age dominated by images, their approach brings value back to what cannot be seen but can be profoundly felt:

the emotions that inhabit the breath.

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