Scientifically Proven: Scents That Make You Happy

Last Updated by: Shopgirl, on: Wednesday, 08 September 2021

Learn more about how odour and emotion are intertwined and discover the mood-enhancing scents that’ll do wonders for your wellbeing.

Have you ever sprayed your favourite fragrance and instantly felt more positive, or lit a beautifully scented candle and felt the stresses of the day melt away? Every day, scent plays a part in how we experience the world around us and impacts the way we feel. But despite plenty of anecdotal evidence, some people are sceptical about the notion of aromatherapy or using scent as a means of manipulating mood.

Although sceptics may believe that a fragrance-induced boost to mental wellbeing is nothing more than a placebo effect, research has proven that the connection between smell and emotions is very much real. Let’s look at the science behind the mood-enhancing effects of fragrance and discover the scents that make you happy.

“Mood Mapping” Shows How Scent Affects Mood

Researchers from International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. (IFF) put many years of research into measuring the subjective and physiological effects of aroma and fragrances on emotions. They developed a method called Mood Mapping™, which can reliably measure the mood associations of aromas by asking participants to vote on how certain scents make them feel. Studies showed that when inhaling citrus scents, most participants said they felt “happy and stimulated or energised”, while vanilla was linked to being “happy but relaxed”.

Florals Are Proven to Be Mood-Enhancing Scents

Scientists have carried out a series of experiments to explore how scents affect thoughts and behaviour. One study headed by Jeanette Haviland-Jones of Rutland University illustrated the effects on the behaviour of non-detectable floral scents. In the study, researchers perfumed a room with classic floral scents and had participants write an essay about three life events: one from the past, one from the present, and one that could happen in the future.

Other participants were asked to write in rooms perfumed either with baby powder or non-scented air. The essays were coded based on how many used positive and negative words in the writing. The results showed that articles written inside the floral-scented room contained 300% more positive words than those written in the other rooms.

The second part of the study required participants to direct a mime to re-enact a memory from their childhood. Of the participants in the floral-scented room, 74% moved towards or physically interacted with the mime, while only 15% of participants from the other rooms did so.

Results from the study suggested that floral odours act as mood manipulators, promoting social interaction and making you feel happy. Next time you could do with a little boost, try spraying your favourite floral scent, such as Chanel No. 5 or Daisy by Marc Jacobs.

Scents That Make You Happy Are Related to Your Experiences

How scent affects mood has a lot to do with your memories, which explains why certain fragrances incite a strong emotional reaction. For example, when you smell a particular perfume, it may instantly take you back to a specific moment spent with a loved one who used to wear that scent, such as a parent or partner.

These moments of nostalgia occur because our olfactory response is directly linked to the limbic system, the emotional centre of our brain. The limbic system is where emotions and memories are processed, as well as the perception of scent. If the smell of rain or the scent of the sea has ever transported you back to a different place and time, you’ll understand how closely your sense of smell is linked to the power of association.

Mood Enhancing Scents You Should Try for Yourself

Now that you know more about how scent affects mood, you’re probably wondering which fragrances will make you feel happy. For a wellbeing boost that’s backed by science, give these a try.

Citrus

Citrus scents are often cited as some of the most pleasant smells and have been shown to boost energy and reduce stress. This is excellent news for perfume lovers, as citrus scents are frequently used in the top notes of your favourite fragrances. Popular citrus scents include lemon, lime, orange, bergamot, yuzu and grapefruit.

Perfumes to try:

No. 1 Bergamot Tea Leaf Sandalwood by Rosendo Mateu — This woody aromatic fragrance contains top notes of lime, bergamot and green mandarin for a citrus boost.

Lime Basil & Mandarin by Jo Malone — This iconic Jo Malone scent has top notes of bergamot, lime and mandarin orange for a beautifully fresh fragrance.

Bergamote & Rose Sauvage by 100 Bon — This all-natural, floral green fragrance contains top notes of lemon verbena and lemon, with floral heart notes of rose, geranium and cherry blossom.

Peppermint

Natural peppermint oil can elevate your mood and make you feel stimulated. In perfumes, you’ll want just a hint of mint for a scent that’s invigorating but not overpowering.

Perfumes to try:

Eros by Versace — This men’s fragrance is fresh, woody and slightly oriental with invigorating top notes of mint, green apple and lemon combined with warm heart notes of tonka and base notes of vanilla and cedar.

Beach Hut Man by Amouage — This woody aromatic fragrance for men has fresh top notes of mint and orange blossom, middle notes of moss and ivy and base notes of patchouli and myrrh.

Mentha Religiosa by Roos And Roos — This unisex fragrance combines top notes of bergamot and a middle note of mint, so it’s up there on the list of mood-enhancing scents.

Pine and Cedar

Research has found that forest scents such as pine, fir and cedarwood have a soothing, stress-relieving effect. Boost your mood with a woody fragrance that will take you back to nature.

Perfumes to try:

Eau De Cedre by Armani — This luxurious fragrance for men combines notes of lemon oil, Italian bergamot and cedar for the ultimate mood-boosting scent.

Cedarise by Hermetica — This unisex fragrance has top notes of cedar, cypress and musk, which combine to create a resonating dark forest scent.

Cypress Shade by The House Of Oud — This floral green perfume for women and men combines citrus, mint, and cedar notes for a heady dose of mood-enhancing fragrance. Is this the ultimate in scents that make you happy?