Secret One: Both men and women are attracted to and influenced by certain fragrance scents.
Have you ever found that a particular perfume you bought didn't suit you? Did you then check the perfume box and discover it was a women’s/men’s fragrance, which might explain why you didn’t feel drawn to it? Studies have shown that both men and women are attracted to and stimulated by certain types of fragrances, and these scents significantly influence attraction between genders because these fragrances mix with body chemistry to produce a unique scent that attracts or repels someone.
Secret Two: Scents shape and recall memories. Do you want to summon a specific memory?
When a particular scent is inhaled, it can trigger memories associated with that scent, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. For instance, smelling a certain perfume associated with a teacher who once expelled you might bring back that memory in vivid detail whenever you encounter someone wearing the same fragrance, potentially affecting your mood. Behavioral studies have shown that scents can evoke more vivid emotional memories than images. This explains the strong ability of scent to trigger happy or sad memories, helping to improve or alter your mood. Recent research has revealed that memories triggered by certain scents are linked to increased brain activity in areas responsible for vivid memories.
Don’t let it stop at just recalling memories; fragrances can also help you retain difficult information while studying. For example, burning an incense stick while studying can make it easier to recall the information later. This finding comes from research by HERS Inc., which conducted tests on the effects of fragrances on memory and recall.
Secret Three: Don’t worry if you feel stressed. There are fragrances that can help reduce stress.
Do you feel anxious and stressed? Who doesn’t experience this from time to time, whether during work, a troubling event, or while waiting for results? According to a 2001 report by the World Health Organization, stress is identified as a problem that significantly reduces quality of life for many people around the world. There is substantial evidence that stress and anxiety can directly or indirectly lead to various illnesses and that reducing stress has health benefits in both the short and long term.
International Flavours & Fragrances Inc, a major company based in New York specializing in producing various perfumes and flavors, conducted several tests on the effects of fragrances (acidic and vanilla) on stress relief. The tests, which used physiological and psychological methods such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin resistance, and muscle tension, showed that these fragrances, known as relaxation perfumes, help the body relax and reduce stress.
Secret Four: What about poor work performance? Can fragrances help increase productivity?
Good news: Teresa Molnar, Executive Director of the Sense of Smell Institute and the research and educational arm of the Fragrance Foundation in the perfume industry, found that fragrances can positively impact mood, reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance self-confidence, and boost physical and cognitive performance.
Inhaling essential oils stimulates a specific area under the brain called the thalamus, which sends signals to other parts of the body, including the immune system and blood pressure, and helps stimulate digestion. Scientists have found that essential oils can significantly improve job performance and reduce disease risk due to their antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Secret Five: A particular perfume helps improve my mood, while another doesn’t seem to have the same effect.
Regarding the best scents for improving mood, researchers confirm that sweet or pleasant scents provide relaxation and improve mood more than other scents because they activate the brain's opioid systems, making the body feel better, as noted by Australian psychologist John Prescott from Oxford University. This means some fragrances have a negative impact on mood and should be avoided.
In conclusion, knowing the positive effects of fragrance scents, regardless of their type, can enhance our lives and relationships. By choosing fragrances that improve our mood, energy levels, and overall well-being, we can positively influence our job performance, cognitive function, and mental health, reduce stress, and ultimately improve our daily lives and interactions with others.
