How Do Different Scents Affect Our Moods?
Specific odour patterns are transmitted to various parts of
the brain. Along with other sites, odour patterns are sent
to the hypothalamus, the limbic system, and the cerebral
cortex. These areas of the brain are responsible for
managing and coordinating internal biological processes,
including how we think, learn, feel and respond to our
environment.
With the help of technology, such as magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), we are able to see detailed images of the
brain's metabolic activity. Now scientists have been able
to confirm that within our brains are olfactory-specific
activities that directly relate our sense of smell to
specific activities within our brains.
Other studies have shown that eight major factors of
mood—such as stress, depression, apathy, happiness,
sensuality, relaxation and stimulation—can be
affected by fragrances. Further, because individuals react
to the multiple notes within one fragrance, fragrances
themselves have the ability to affect various moods.
Conversely, the study notes that simple fragrances affect
only a single mood state. The study explains that while
complex fragrances, such as lily of the valley, have the
potential to increase both relaxation and stimulation, less
complex fragrances such as Douglas fir consistently induce
relaxation and lower depression.
Tuberose, on the other hand, has been shown to have the
ability to promote happiness and relaxation. It is
suggested to invoke a sensual, romantic atmosphere while
lowering depression, as does the very complex formulation
within the fragrance of hyacinth.
In 1997 Dr. Robert A. Barron of Rensselelaer Polytechnic
Institute conducted a study in a retail mall where he found
that individuals who are exposed to a pleasant odour are
more apt to help others than individuals who are not
exposed to the same pleasant odour. When asked about their
current mood, these same individuals claimed they felt
happier than those who were not exposed to pleasant odours.
So is it really that simple—if we are upset, we just
need to sniff vanilla and presto, we become instantly happy?
Yes. And no! It depends on an individual's earliest
association with vanilla. The connection between scents
and emotions is more complicated than one may first imagine.
Exposing ten individuals to the same sweet-smelling vanilla
cookies does not necessarily guarantee that one will have
ten happy individuals. This is because all of these
individuals' past experiences with vanilla may not be
positive. The manner in which we were exposed to
aromas—our experiences and emotions associated with
the aroma—in the past has a large impact on our
sensation of the odour now.
Though cherry may be an appealing flavour to most of us, if
we had to take cherry cough syrup as a child, we may detest
the smell, taste and even hint of cherry flavouring now.
For this same reason, the scent of gasoline, or even a
skunk, may be repulsive to most individuals but if one
associates these scents with that of a pleasant
memory—say, an early summer evening or a childhood
boat ride on the lake—these same scents may not be
repulsive at all. The pleasantness of a scent is not
universal; our reaction to many scents is highly personal
depending on our own experiences with a particular scent.
Many of our olfactory likes and dislikes—both that of
smell and taste—are based on our emotional reactions
to these substances that may have little to do with the
"taste" or "scent" of the substance itself. Indeed, smells
can evoke strong and surprising reactions within all of us.
Generally speaking, however, we have positive associations
with odours that are familiar to us and we often dislike
odours that our foreign to us.
What is interesting is that individuals often recognize a
scent more quickly and show a preference for it when it is
visually associated with its appropriate corresponding
colour. The fragrance of a lemon is more quickly
identified when it is visually paired with the colour
yellow, grape with purple, cherry with red and orange with
orange. Conversely, when an individual smells a
strawberry-scented blue object, he or she is less likely to
readily identify its scent—thus manufacturers design
scented markers with their visually appropriate colours.
The magic of vanilla
One scent, however, tends to be liked by most individuals,
regardless of its visual colour—be it brown, beige,
white, or even pink. Vanilla. While researchers haven't
agreed on any specific reason for vanilla's universal
popularity, many believe that our positive childhood
associations with vanilla's warm scent—homemade
cookies, ice cream and milk—may be the answer.
Perfume, soap, air fresheners and candle manufacturers have
been quick to capitalize on this phenomenon since the 1990s.
Yet while manufactures have only recently begun to jump on
the vanilla bandwagon, psychologists and researchers have
been familiar with its positive emotional effects for many
years, using its scent in experiments where a universally
pleasant fragrance is required. Moreover, its fragrance is
used on cancer patients undergoing diagnostic procedures to
lessen their anxieties.
A study at Germany's Tubingen University confirms vanilla's
ability to reduce the startle-reflex in humans and animals.
That vanilla has a calming effect on not only humans, but
on animals as well suggests that the connection between
vanilla's scent and positive emotions has to do with more
than just warm and fuzzy childhood memories.
Researchers have only just begun to scratch the surface
about how our sense of smell relates to our various moods
and many more studies, no doubt, are needed in this area.
----------------------------------------------------
Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab,
a world leader in the development of innovative products
that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger
memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual
health. To learn more about enhancing your sex drive, go
to http://www.scentuellepatch.com
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