Why Scent Matters: The Psychological Effects of Fragrance

While all five senses have key roles to play in daily life, our sense of smell might just be the one most closely associated with memory. As a result, a well-chosen fragrance can leave a powerful impression on those around you. This is also why so many perfume lovers are keen on nailing their signature scent — the right fragrance notes can have a profound impact on how you're perceived, well into the future.

The Power of the Olfactory Bulb: How Fragrance Mixtures Affect Our Emotional Responses

We've all experienced the power of fragrance mixtures, for better or worse, throughout our daily existence. Pleasant scents, graced with well-loved fragrance notes, often lift our spirits, and can easily improve an otherwise humdrum day. Conversely, human exposure to mixtures of unpleasant smells typically leads to poor mood, irritation, and in some cases, even adverse health effects.

This begs the obvious question: why is scent such a powerful tool when it comes to human emotions?

The answer lies in the power of our olfactory bulb, the part of the brain responsible for processing our approach to scent, and ensuing response. The olfactory bulb is closely linked to the limbic system, which according to recent scientific studies, means that smell — whether synthetic scents or natural fragrances — get fast-tracked for emotional processing in the brain.

The Impact of Perfume: How to Harness the Power of Scent for Good

If human exposure to scent prompts such a powerful emotional response, it goes without saying that the impact of perfume is uniquely potent. Our exposure to mixtures of fragrance formulas can prompt all kinds of feelings, thanks to the efficient work of our limbic systems. This is why products like air freshener are such a godsend when we're trapped in close quarters in indoor environments, where the smell of sweaty armpit blends unfortunately with stale indoor air.

In order to avoid the distinctively unpleasant scent of "l'eau d'armpit blend" in crowded indoor environments, it goes without saying that the exquisite blends of a professional perfumer are highly valued. Whether we're talking about ingredient lists full of fresh, feminine, and floral-scented fragrance molecules, or the more subtly masculine fragrance molecules of a woody musk, the smell of well-executed perfume layering feels like the olfactory equivalent of a comforting embrace.

In that case, how do we make sure we're selecting fragrance formulas that work for us, rather than against us? What kind of scented products are best suited to creating emotional harmony in our day to day lives?

The answer is, of course, somewhat subjective. Different people will always have a slightly different approach to scent. One person's idea of a collection of pleasant scents may be overwhelming or even disgusting to different nose.

Cigarette smoke, for example, was such a divisive scent up through the early to mid 1990s, that restaurants had entire non-smoking and smoking sections to separate not only those who feared the carcinogenic chemicals in nicotine, but also some who simply hated the smell. This range in human opinions on scent is part of why the fragrance industry manufactures such a wide range of synthetic musks, and guards their trade secrets jealously.

Identifying Your Personal Taste in Synthetic Fragranced Products

Most professionally crafted fragrances contain an exquisite blend of either natural or synthetic fragrance chemicals — or often both. While you probably already have some metric for natural fragrances (these are scents derived from things like plants and flowers), you might have less knowledge of the synthetic fragrance connection.

The thing is, you've probably come across more synthetic musks than you realize. Synthetic fragrances aren't just limited to perfume, after all. Most personal care products, particularly those related to body care, contain at least some synthetic fragrance chemicals — and those that are unscented are usually explicitly labeled as such in their ingredient lists.

Plenty of fragranced products exist among common household items. Even if you've never purchased perfume, you've probably had to choose between synthetic fragrances in daily necessities and common consumer products such as cleaning products, body lotion, air freshener, and even non-perfume cosmetic products and body care or related personal care products. Even fragranced baby products are a common find in the marketplace.

If you're a first time perfume shopper uncertain of where to start, knowing which synthetic fragrances you're drawn to in other consumer products may give you a good place to start. If you really like the smell of lavender in fragranced baby products, for example, you might also enjoy lavender-scented perfume.

The Role of Natural Fragrances in Consumer Products

Not all perfumes or fragranced products rely strictly on synthetic scents alone, either. In the fragrance industry, many synthetic scents are combined with natural fragrances to build the ideal fragrance connection.

If you want to use scented products to improve your emotional well being, another useful step is to figure out what kind of natural fragrances you associate with positive feelings. This can also be a helpful guide for selecting your favorite perfumes.

For example, are there particular floral notes that you're especially drawn to, such as lavender? If you like traditionally feminine fragrances like the smell of roses or other flowers, look for perfumes with product labels advertising those scents. If classical feminine fragrances aren't your thing — perhaps you prefer, for example, a darker, woody musk — check out fragrance materials advertised as men's body care or personal care products, or even unisex options for both natural and synthetic fragrances.

The Ethical Consumption of Natural and Synthetic Fragrances: Avoiding Environmental Pollution and Adverse Health Effects

It's worth noting that the power of fragrance molecules don't just affect our emotions — they can also potentially affect our overall well being. Sustainability is a major concern in the fragrance industry, as are potential health risks from unsafe chemical exposures.

As such, when selecting a perfume manufacturer, it's important to select a brand that makes their broader ethical stance clear to consumers, especially regarding the dangers of environmental pollution and chemicals of concern.

By choosing a perfume brand that appropriately addresses environmental concerns, you're choosing fragrances that will not only improve the emotional well being of yourself and those around you — you're also making a better choice for the future of the planet.