The Science of Scents

Scents have the ability to change the way we see and feel the world around and within ourselves. Scents, or mainly essential oils, can impact our mood and cognitive functions, and aromacology is here to prove that!

 

What is aromacology? 

Aromacology is the science that studies the influence of scents on human behaviour.

How do scents work? 

Scents work in communication between the nose (olfactory bulb) and the brain (the limbic system). Any time we smell something, especially in natural fragrances like essential oils, we inhale volatile molecules called esters. These molecules are naturally present in plants, flowers, seeds, barks and roots and they help us to identify and characterize various smells. 

The sense of smell comes from ultra-specialised sensory cells found in a tissue layer inside the nose. The process can be described in two stages:

1. Frist, the odour (esters) floats in the air reaching the nostrils and dissolving in the mucus (which is on the roof of each nostril). Underneath the mucus, in the olfactory epithelium, specialised receptor cells called olfactory receptor neurons detect the odour. These neurons are capable of detecting thousands of different odours. 

2. Followingly, the olfactory receptor neurons transmit the information to the olfactory bulbs, which are located at the back of the nose. The olfactory bulbs have sensory receptors that are part of the brain which send messages directly to the most primitive brain centres where they influence emotions and memories (via the limbic system structures) and higher centres where they modify conscious thoughts (via neocortex) by helping us to distinguish different scents.

The limbic system aka “the brain of emotions”?

The limbic system is centrally involved in the mediation between a person’s recognition of an event and the resulting physiological reaction to it, mediated via the endocrine system. Stimuli are processed conceptually in the cortex and passed to the limbic system where with an array of neurotransmitters, they are evaluated and a motivational response is formulated. For instance, it can culminate in an energising or relaxing reaction, making you feel stimulated or at ease.

The limbic system works as a network of connected structures near the middle of the brain linked within the central nervous system. One of the structures of the limbic system is the olfactory bulb, which spreads the information captured by the sense of smell into the other structures of the limbic system. These structures work together to affect a wide range of behaviours including emotions, motivation, and memory. This system deals with instinctive or automatic behaviours and has little to do with conscious thought or will. The limbic system also deals with translating sensory data from the neocortex (the thinking brain) into motivational forces for behaviour.

Recently the use of essential oils in perfumes for the well-being purposes has been significantly growing and blossoming into a new trend. However, using the oils for health purposes is far from being a novelty. For centuries many cultures have used them as remedies beneficial for, among the others, sexual wellness, sleep, physical performance and even immunity

...But how do perfumes encourage self-expression?

Scientific evidence suggests that scents can trigger certain pathways making you feel more confident, sexy and empowered. Mainly three neuro-hormones are involved in this process:

1. Dopamine is responsible to inspire action, curiosity and risk-taking. The absence of this hormone can be associated with passivity and apathy.

2. Serotonin is the happiness hormone, critical to boosting the confidence. Our mood and behaviour are strongly affected by it. Respectively, the more serotonin we have, the happier we feel.

3. Oxytocin is the love or pleasure hormone, good levels of it can lead to optimism and strong self-esteem. Interestingly, in nature oxytocin supplies can be boosted by being affectionate and by having sex.

Here are some essential oils linked with activating the dopaminergic pathway, to improve self-expression with aphrodisiac properties:

Sandalwood: The main ingredient of sandalwood oil is α-santalol which has many therapeutic properties and gives it its creamy and milky scent. Traditionally, sandalwood oil has been used in the Indian Ayurvedic system for its renowned sublime aphrodisiac power.

Sandalwood can be found in: Queer Magic, Divine Nectar and Self-Mythology.

 

Rose: Roses are not only beautiful and wonderfully fragrant—their aromatic compounds also have remarkable properties. They possess anxiolytic, calming, relaxing, and even aphrodisiac effects. The primary aromatic molecules in rose essential oil responsible for these benefits include citronellol, geraniol, nerol, and 2-phenylethyl alcohol.

Rose can be found in: Lance of Love, Flowerotica and Self-Mythology.

 

Jasmin: Jasmine, the main molecule naturally found in Jasmin oil, is proven to stimulate the dopaminergic pathway, which may positively influence your sex drive. In Ayurveda jasmine is known as the "perfume of love” and is claimed to be one of the strongest aphrodisiacs out in the world. The scent can be described as sweet and exquisitely floral.

Jasmin can be found in: Fluid Nature, Divine Nectar and Queer Magic.

 

Lavender: Lavender has been know for its axyolitic (anxiety reducing) propetries. This si due to Linalool the natural compound, that has the ability to decrease stress hormones and increase relaxation homrones including 5-THP and even increase orgams.

You can find Lavender in: Self-Mythology.

 

Vanilla : Due to its main active aphrodisiac molecule, vanillin, sweet vanilla is also a potential aphrodisiac and may encourage arousal. Its nostalgic profile is intensely comforting, which may help you relax and feel confident. Vanilla is light, sugary, and easy to wear.

Vanilla can be found in: Divine Nectar and Queer Magic.

Featured image: Face to Face by Willemijn Mensens 2018.

 

Reference

Effects of essential oils on central nervous system: Focus on mental health. Phytotherapy Res 2020 doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6854

Lou H.C., Skewes J.C., Thomsen K.R., Overgaard M., Lau H.C., Mouridsen K., Roepstorff A., “Dopaminergic stimulation enhances confidence and accuracy in seeing rapidly presented words”. J Vis. 2011 Feb 23;11(2):15. DOI: 10.1167/11.2.15. PMID: 21346001.

Fung TKH, Lau BWM, Ngai SPC, Tsang HWH. Therapeutic Effect and Mechanisms of Essential Oils in Mood Disorders: Interaction between the Nervous and Respiratory Systems. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 3;22(9):4844. doi: 10.3390/ijms22094844. PMID: 34063646; PMCID: PMC8125361.