Having a nice-smelling working environment is definitely a great idea, whether you’re doing so in the office or at home. But do you know that there’s more to using scents than just making the surrounding air pleasant to sniff at? The way your room smells can actually have an effect on your overall mood, which in turn affects your productivity. Having the right scents around you can sharpen your mind, lower your blood pressure, and even improve your outlook in life.
Experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are experts that believe that a person’s sense of smell may have a role in the healing properties of essential scents such as lavender oil. There are receptors in our nose that communicate with parts of our brain that stores our memories and emotions. Breathing scents stimulate these areas of our brain, which can influence not just our physical health, but emotional and mental aspects as well.
Given the transformative powers of aromatherapy, it’s not surprising that offices are starting to make use of scented humidifiers and oil diffusers to create a spa-like ambiance in work areas. If you’re working from home, you can use beautiful scented candles to make your room smell wonderful. Check out these scents that you can use to boost productivity and improve overall mood.
Scents for Enhancing Problem-solving Skills
Coffee – instead of drinking your nth cup of coffee to get you through the day, why not try smelling it instead? The ability of coffee’s smell to wake us up and keep us alert is proven and tested. Fortunately, the smell of coffee has been incorporated into candles, oils, and sprays, which makes it easier for us to enjoy the scent without having to make another cup of brew.
- Rosemary – study shows that rosemary has the ability to improve memory significantly, via a test that shows people having up to 7% more accurate results when exposed to the smell of rosemary. It also boosts one’s alertness as well.
- Vetiver – this rich and exotic scent was proven to be helpful for people with ADHD when it comes to improving their attention by boosting their brain pattern function. The smell of vetiver eases their symptoms and allows them to have better focus.
- Scents for Improving Work Performance
- Lemon – the smell of lemon never fails to bring pleasant memories of warm summers and ice-cold drinks, but it can also improve performance at work. According to a Japanese study, 54% less typing errors were made by workers when they were exposed to the smell of lemons.
- Jasmine – this scent is also associated with improved performance as well, as it can increase the beta waves in that area of our brain which controls activity and emotional levels.
Scents for Boosting Attention and Focus
- Cinnamon – this rich and beautiful aroma can help make workers meet their deadlines as it can improve performance and heighten attention. It’s easy to use too via cinnamon sticks and potpourris which can be easily stored in desks and drawers.
- Peppermint – this clean and refreshing aroma increases alertness and you don’t need to use much for the smell to waft clearly around the room. A few drops of oil in the diffuser or just a couple of sprays or dabs on the wrist will do the trick. This makes it the perfect scent to use in break rooms and meeting rooms.
- Ginger – we all know how invigorating a cup of warm ginger is, so it’s no surprise that its smell can do wonders for one’s mood as well. Keep that fatigue away by introducing the smell of ginger in the middle of the day while people are working diligently on their deadlines.
- Scents to Recharge and Re-invigorate
- Pine – this earthy scent can give a much-needed perk if you’re feeling down and depressed.
- Lemongrass – the stress-reducing ability of lemongrass makes it the ideal scent for managers who have so much on their plate. Use this to lower anxiety levels and make the whole office feel eased and relaxed.
- Lavender – this is definitely one of the best scents for relaxation and a staple in spas and wellness centers. Use lavender in your office break rooms and lounges to help your employees chill out more during their much-needed breaks.
There are so many ways to add scents to the office or your home workspace – via oil diffusers and essential oils, candles, air fresheners, and room sprays. Just make sure to take note of employees who have sensitivities or allergies to particular scents so that everyone can benefit from the aromatherapy.