Historically, our sense of smell has been considered a little… meh, not so important. In fact, a 2011 study found that 53 percent of millennials said they’d rather give up their sense of smell than their current tech device. And naturally, our senses of taste, sight, touch and sound are definitely more important to our survival than our ability to sniff out the freshest bread, cleanest laundry or the nicest smelling rose.
But according to the 2019 Global Wellness Summit, 2020 is high time to reconsider how our sense of smell could help us become more well beings. So, we decided to do a little research on how this might be possible, how it could help us achieve our health goals and how our sense of smell might make us happier.
The Power of Scent
“75 percent of the emotions we generate on a daily basis are affected by our sense of smell.”
Many of us have experienced what’s known as sense memory (often referred to as the Proust effect after Marcel Proust, who was the first to link memory with the sense of smell) when a smell like grandma’s cookies or summer jasmine suddenly transport us to another place or time.
But research has only recently discovered how and why our memories work like this. A 2004 study by Dr. Linda Buck and Dr. Richard Axel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their paper which explained how our sense of smell works. This included the discovery that there are approximately 1,000 olfactory genes in our bodies (which makes up roughly 3 percent of the entire human genome).
The researchers estimated that the average human being is able to recognise and remember about 10,000 different scents… but even more recent research puts this number closer to one trillion! And these olfactory cells are considered part of the limbic system, which mean they’re directly connected to the areas of the brain that process emotions and learning.
“We’re 100 times more likely to remember something we smell over something we see, hear or touch.”
Our top five scents for more happiness, health and productivity
1. Coffee
2. Lemon
Yep! It’s not just for cleaning your kitchen counter. The scent of lemons has been shown to promote concentration and has calming and clarifying properties that are helpful when you’re feeling angry, anxious or run down. Lemon also has antiviral and antibacterial properties which can help you fight sore throats and colds, thanks to its ability to boost the body’s immune system and improve circulation. So, next time you need to feel focused but relaxed, turn to lemon or bergamot essential oils.
3. Lavender
It might remind you of your Nanna’s sock drawer, but lavender is much more powerful than we’ve been giving it credit for. Some of you might be aware of its ability to soothe anxiety and aid sleep, but did you know that lavender essential oil also has calming properties that help control emotional stress? Lavender has a soothing effect on the nervous system and can relieve tension and depression as well as help to treat muscle soreness, osteoarthritis, headaches and migraines.
4. Cinnamon
Sure, cinnamon is extra tasty when it’s combined with tasty cake and icing… and we love it on top of our chai lattes in winter. Cinnamon was one of the first spices to be transported across difficult terrain in Europe and because it was hard to come by, became a status symbol for the wealthy. Historically, it’s been used to treat a supplement to treat digestive system issues, diabetes and bronchitis. It’s also highly prized for its ability to preserve meat in the winter. Recent research has found it also has anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, can kill harmful bacteria like solobacterium moorei. The scent of cinnamon has been known to have a stimulatory effect which can help fight mental fatigue and improve concentration and focus. So next time you get a craving for that 3pm chai latte – remind yourself that it’s totally justified!
5. Rosemary
Shakespeare certainly had a thing for sweet smelling plants. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” he wrote in Romeo & Juliet. And in Hamlet, sweet, tragic Ophelia says: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray, love, remember.” Well, we’re going to focus on rosemary, but we will make special mention of rose essential oil here – mainly because of its aromatherapeutic power to inspire special cuddles. Enough said. Ok, moving right along.
Rosemary essential oil has been used as a preservative in food industry because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, but recent research has found that it may be even more effective in other areas. Recent studies have found that it could have analgesic effects, can help to improve thinking ability and elevate mood, and can also have free radical scavenging abilities which among other things can improve liver function. Rosemary essential oil has also been found to have stimulating properties that improve memory retention, and help to fight physical and mental fatigue.
See? Your sense of smell isn’t just that fifth sense that you can’t always name… it’s a bona fide wellness warrior in its own right, and it can help you be smarter, more productive, happier and healthier.
What’s your favourite fragrance for feeling happier and more focused? We’d love to know. Please share your faves in the Members’ Facebook Group.