There’s a scent for every mood

The sea. A fresh pot of coffee. Roses. They’re all things that have distinctive smells. And whether we recognise it on a conscious level or not, certain scents evoke specific memories and responses in all of us, and science has quite a bit to say about it. 

Psychologists claim that our neural networks transport scents to our brain where they are “interpreted” as something that is familiar or something that is new. In particular, the olfactory nerve is responsible for transmitting these kinds of messages to our brain. Through this neural system, smells elicit certain emotions.

The psychology of scent

“Fragrances can definitely affect and change our moods. Different smells have been proven to improve behaviour and even influence performance at work,” perfume expert, Daniela Kumanov, from Kumanov Perfumery, explains. “It all comes down to associative learning and past experience. Our olfactory bulbs in our nasal cavities are responsible for receiving and decoding information about smells. These bulbs are linked to areas of the brain that deal with emotions and associative learning. That’s why certain smells are linked to specific events and experiences.”

Scent and emotion

“Smell is not just a fragrance – it represents a feeling or a memory,” says Daniela. “In addition to memory-inducing capabilities, some scents can also affect the mood and the body, from helping with stress reduction to headache relief and mood improvements.” Perfumers rely on the physiological effects of certain fragrances and essentials oils to create scents that invoke pleasurable emotions. After all, fragrance is about so much more than how you smell – it’s about how it makes you feel. 

Daniela gave us a quick list of her favourite scents and the kind of mood they are known to evoke:

●    Clementine (fresh, crisp, citrusy) is stimulating and physically invigorating.
●    Lemon (fresh, heady, citrusy) is known to increase the heart rate and boost alertness
●    Lavender (floral, sharp, sweet) is known for lowering the symptoms of depression.
●    Bergamot (citrusy, spicy-floral) and ylang-ylang (spicy-floral) can decrease blood pressure.
●    Jasmine (floral) is known for having a calming effect on the mind and can induce sleep.

It’s all about the notes

“Notes consist of three layers – base, top and middle notes,” Daniela says. “Generally, a fragrance would be considered floral if its notes were predominantly floral like rose, geranium or gardenia. Others may be more exotic, with spicy notes like star anise or cinnamon.” Finding out which notes produce certain effects in terms of mood, may help you find a scent that will have you smelling great on the outside and feeling go
 

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