We’re not gonna lie. Phrases like “soul-care” and “vibrational flower remedies” have been known to send us running. But these days, we’ll give just about anything a whirl if it promises balance, less stress, better sleep and improved concentration.

Those are just a few of the goals behind the aromatic sprays offered by San Francisco-based Nectar Essences, whose founder Jenny Pao is a holistic healing practitioner trained in flower essence therapy.

The core idea behind flower therapy is a simple one found in healing traditions from Chinese Medicine to practices employed by ancient Mayan shamans: flowers make people feel better.

“You don’t have to teach a child that a flower makes them happy,” says Pao, who delves into the hard science behind flower therapy on her blog.

Pao initially began blending custom sprays as alternatives to oral tinctures for clients of her private practice, where she often works with people recovering from disease or trauma and children with problems sleeping.

Each of the five concoctions (Balance, Sleep, Awake, De-Stress and At Home) promotes a different outcome. Awake’s organic lavender and neroli are for mental fatigue, while the ylang ylang, palo santo and jasmine of De-Stress are meant to relax the body and the mind. Pao recommends misting each liberally and inhaling deeply three times a day, before meditation or yoga sessions and, really, anytime the urge strikes.

Pao cautions that “it’s not going to create a drastic shift,” and we agree. The effects are indeed subtle, but the pleasantly complex aromas of each spray and cool mist are enough to keep our inner skeptic spritzing away.