How scents can affect our mood
What’s your favourite smell? Maybe it’s freshly-cut grass, the saltiness of the sea at the beach, maybe it’s even your favourite Zoflora!
More so than other senses, smelling our favourite scent can trigger positive moods and release endorphins into our system. It’s no coincidence that estate agents suggest brewing coffee and baking bread in order to entice potential buyers when selling your house.
But what impact do different smells have on our mood and can different scents improve our day-to-day life?
Citrus: The citrusy scent of oranges, lemons and bergamot can help you to feel more energised and boost your alertness. As well as this, they are extremely good for cleaning and sanitising as they contain the natural solvent d-limonene so are a popular choice of scent for cleaning products.
Peppermint: Peppermint is a natural stimulant which can increase your ability to concentrate during times of mental fatigue or stress. It also gives a cooling sensation from its high proportion of menthol, which explains why it is often used in shampoos and shower gels, and contains antibacterial properties.
Lavender: For anyone who struggles to sleep, lavender is known to be a calming smell which can relax our body and mind, making it ideal for those with insomnia. Many people choose to put lavender in with their laundry or in their airing cupboard to give a soothing scent to clothes and linen too.
Vanilla: Not just in ice cream, vanilla is frequently used in perfumes and is associated with warmth and softness. The smell of vanilla is also known to be a natural aphrodisiac that induces euphoria and relaxation.
So whether it's the scent you use in your cleaning products or lighting a scented candle before bed, why not see if a different smell makes a difference around your home.
Written by staff writer: Laura Dew // www.linkedin.com/in/laura-dew-0b71b85a
My favourite smell has to be the sea air,reminds me of my childhood we’d go camping down the coast my dad wouldn’t fish with my brother while my mum had me looking for mussels..simpler life but so many great memories 🙂
I love fresh cut grass. The smell of baking bread takes me right back to when I was 3 or 4 in my neighbours house, she baked bread buns all the time. Ah lovely memories. I love all the usual smells but, when I smell a certain cigarette (which I don’t very often now thankfully due to the smoking ban) but when I do smell this brand it reminds me of lying on my dads back at my grans house when he visited from Aberdeen (my parents divorced) and he’d be smoking this while we watched the Tom and Jerry matinée 😊 he died when I was 10 (37 years ago) in a car accident so this is my favourite smell 😊
you couldn’t be more right; growing up i suffered a bit of anxiety which resulted in flare ups of psoriasis; and for me the smell of my mums dressing gown was always my comfort, & now my own son loves to wear mine.. sense of feeling safe i think!
Also love how scents can take you straight back to old memories in a flash.. 😍
I love how different smells can trigger different emotions in is all. Like if I can smell Christmas pudding or golden syrup it takes me back to my childhood and helping my nan make toffee apples for my dads fruit and veg shop for bonfire night.
I love walking through my house and smelling that clean smell! Fresh linen, clean cotton and baby powder are some of my favourites.
My favourite at the moment is what smells exactly like my grandma which turned out to be some Ikea candles in the kitchen draw. Also at 37wks pregnant it’s facewipes, new car tyres & sponges (they have to be new) and I have chewed on them 🙈😂 the Sp2onges are safe for now 🤞🏼😂