Do you have a favourite scent? Smells that immediately transport you back to a time and place in your life, or evoke emotions so strong you feel like you are living the moment again. Maybe it was the smell of freshly cut grass on those hot summer days as a child, or a chocolate chip cookie freshly baked straight from the oven. For most people, smells are a robust trigger for memories and emotions – but did you know that they even have a profound effect on our moods? Some fragrances are even strong enough to lift people’s moods for more than 10 minutes!
The scent evokes memories
Scents can easily evoke memories and emotions. Sometimes good and sometimes bad, but they can never be ignored. Memories triggered by a familiar scent or memory explosions caused by a special smell can be both powerful and impactful. Our sense of smell is probably the most powerful senses we have because it’s linked to the part of the brain that controls our strongest emotions.
Whatever your favourite scent, there is a scent for every kind of moods and situations in life. If you are feeling down, a light perfume or cologne might help lift your spirits.
If you are feeling sluggish then some scented candles or melted wax can do wonders to help stimulate mental activity – burning them has been shown to stimulate brain waves and improve cognitive function. And better of all, lots of them available online to order! You can browse through a number of scents and make your selection from the comfort of your home. Keep in mind that some scents also trigger the release of happy chemicals in our brains, such as dopamine, which can help elevate your mood.
They help our muscles relax and affect our body
Smell also has a profound effect on the body, not just the brain. Some scents cause our muscles to relax and release tension – lavender is an amazing example of this as it has been shown to induce sleep and reduce stress. Other scents may make us feel more energetic and increase circulation which leads to the release of additional endorphins. There are so many various scents to select from, all with their own benefits for your health.
Plus, smells can affect our sense of taste, and if we have ever smelled something appetizing, we’re more likely to be more open to eating it, particularly if the smell is powerful.
Our brains are designed for certain smells
Certain smells are so ingrained in our brains that even thinking about them triggers some form of emotional response within us. Spraying on certain types of perfume before a big interview causes stress levels to drop significantly. The same thing happens with pheromones. Pheromones are scents that cause us to act differently around the person who emitted them – perhaps more flirtatious than usual, or more submissive.
Smell can even be used as a way to increase concentration and energy levels. The scent of citrus, for example, has been shown to improve mental function while peppermint is known to increase energy levels. There are certain scents that can even help you focus on your work better by triggering different parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and logic.
Touch also plays a role in our sense of smell
Usually smells affect us subconsciously but touch enhances that response. Holding something that smells good like incense or even just kissing an object while physically touching it causes the effect to be stronger than usual. This is because there are unique nerve endings in our fingertips that send signals directly back to our brains, allowing us to have deeper emotional responses.
If you are trying to find ways to boost your mood each day, consider trying different scents and colognes – they can help trigger memories or emotions that may be needed in certain situations.
Smell can improve our mental health
Some scents can improve our mental health and help us feel happier. As already mentioned, lavender has been shown to be very relaxing and can make you fall asleep faster, for example. Citrus scents such as grapefruit and oranges are also promoted mood enhancement, as do floral scents like freesia or chamomile. These are all strong scents that can easily affect your mood. If you are ever feeling stressed then you might want to try lighting some candles with this sort of fragrance, it is a cheap and simple way to do it!
No two people smell precisely the same
Everyone in the world smells different – we all have our own scent that’s unique to us. It is what makes us recognizable without any effort on our part. Not sure if someone is wearing your favourite perfume? Well, their smell will likely be different from yours, and you will have the ability to tell them aside from other people pretty easily (and vice versa).
What’s more, our sense of smell can even influence our memory. Think back to a time when you smelled something that reminded you of the past or took you back in time – this is because smells are related to certain memories and make us feel better when we reminisce. No need for drug-induced hallucinations and trips down memory lane either. Only light a candle at home and live!
There are many benefits to be gained from understanding how our sense of smell affects us. From boosting mood and increasing concentration to triggering memories or emotions that may be needed for certain situations – there’s far more going on with the olfactory system than you might think. It is important not only to know which scent works best in several scenarios, but also why it has this effect on us in order to harness its power to the fullest.
If you are trying to find ways to improve your mental health in your everyday life, consider trying a different fragrance or cologne – they can help trigger certain memories or emotions that may be needed in certain situations. No two people smell precisely the same and that is part of what makes us all unique, remember that!
