Can a fragrance change my mood?


Yes. One of the most remarkable properties of fragrance is the way it instantly affects our emotions. Studies have shown that fragrances can stimulate or calm us, encourage a good mood or bad, shape positive or negative memories and induce sweet dreams. Aromatherapy - the art of healing with fragrant essential oils - is based on the idea that aroma has the power to affect mood.

Fragrance has long been recognized as a powerful and subtle tool for re-balancing the mind and the body. “Every perfume is a medicine” says the old Chinese proverb.

Ann Gottlieb, a fragrance consultant who has worked on the development of Calvin Klein’s fragrances, said in a recent interview that “Much of what’s used in products that make aroma therapeutic claims is based on tradition and folklore rather than science but, more and more, research is pointing to our ability to alter moods. Soon, fragrance is not just going to make you smell good, it will have a very real physiological effect."

In a recent study, peppermint and lily of the valley were found to increase alertness at work. One Tokyo company pipes peppermint into the office to improve productivity. Another company sends different fragrances through the air conditioning system to enhance staff productivity. A whiff of citrus helps get the day off to a good start. An unobtrusive floral fragrance aids concentration in mid-morning and afternoon. A touch of cedar seems to relieve tiredness during the lunch break and in the late afternoon.

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