Olfactory Psychology

In this article, we will unfold how scents are linked with human psychology according to experts’ opinions of olfactory psychology. However, we will start with the basics of olfactory psychology first.

Scents have been found closely intertwined with emotion and memory. Studies have found that scents have a great impact on the human psyche as well as on the hormone and nervous system. According to some experts, it is because of the brain’s anatomy where the nose plays a vital role in affecting the brain and nerve functions.

What is olfactory psychology?
How scents are linked with human psychology
Effects of natural perfumes on human psychology and nervous system
Final words

What is olfactory psychology?

Olfactory psychology refers to the science that describes the effects of smells on the human psyche and nervous system, playing an important role in activating the endocrine system. It involves multiple psychological factors such as emotion, mood, memory, and behavior.

Research suggests that odors of nature have an amazing power to impact internal bodily functions, especially those that are executed by nerves and hormones, which is why a wide range of natural perfumes have popularly been used for thousands of years to heal the human body and mind.

How scents are linked with human psychology

Smells are controlled by a structure in front of the brain called the olfactory bulb. It receives the impulses of smells through olfactory nerves and sends signals to the other associated areas of the brain, collectively known as the limbic system, for further processing. The limbic system consists of several regions in the brain including the hippocampus and amygdala that play a significant role in handling multiple psychological factors such as emotion, mood, memory, and behavior.

Effects of natural perfumes on human psychology and nervous system

Natural perfumers have tried to figure out ways to harness the evocative power of scents for thousands of years. Scents of nature have been closely associated with human civilizations since their beginning across all cultures ranging from religious rituals to delicious foods to therapeutic uses. Some smells have incredible properties to affect the human nervous and hormonal system that can determine a person’s tendency towards wellness or illness.

Natural perfumes have historically been used to heal hearts and bodies. The smells that natural perfumes impart evoke emotions that help to heal the hearts and the molecules these smelling perfumes contain help to heal the bodies. Since it is not possible to dissociate the perfume molecules from their smells, dissociating the treatment of bodies from that of the hearts is also impossible as well.

Let us unfold some secrets of olfactory psychology closely linked with natural perfumes.

The trees

The trees stand alone strong and symbolize force and stability. The woody aromas produced by the trees provide lessons to face difficult moments in life in any adversities. They impart masculine qualities such as reliability, stability, and tenacity. Women who want to compete with men in certain conditions may also love woody smells.

As per the olfactory language, the archetype of trees is the pine that comes with two olfactory notes – the leaves and the woods.

The pine trees breathe through the leaves that are balsamic. The essences derived from the leaves of the pine help open the respiratory tract and expand breathing capacity, which is why they have traditionally been respected in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of serious respiratory conditions.

The essences produced from the woods of the trunk of various pine species are denser, giving stability and tenacity to natural perfumes. They are used to instill physical and mental strength in aromatherapy. The essential oils of the pine woods can help improve the body’s structural posture by strengthening the vertebral column, the bones, and their associated articulations including muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

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The resins

The resins are found in very small amounts in certain species but the effects they produce pervade the entire plant. These aromatic substances act as a spirit of the plant that integrates many different parts to each other and helps to protect the plant from the attacks of outside invaders such as insects, bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

The archetype of resinous substances is Frankincense known as Olibanum. Since the aromatic resins have properties to integrate internal functions, natural perfumes made from aromatic resinous gums have a positive effect on humans to unite mental, physical, and emotional dimensions.

The trees produce resins to heal their wounds, which is why frankincense essence has tremendous wound healing properties. The frankincense resins and the essential oils derived from it are also respected to treat and prevent various infectious and gastrointestinal diseases, especially in the Arab Peninsula.

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The flowers

The flowers are the most delicate and sublime things in the world that have astounding power to elevate human emotions. Flowers have historically been used in perfume therapy as well as psycho-aromatherapy to combat various emotional conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress.

Though flowers symbolize femininity and help in curing female issues, they promote the artistic, irrational, and intuitive side of men when worn as perfumes.

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The spices

Spices have had a big role in developing global trades across cultures. They possess high commercial values for both the pleasuring tastes they produce on the palate and their curative properties.

Spices come from tropical countries and contain a substantial amount of solar energy. They have traditionally been used to heat up the human body for thousands of years, making them highly beneficial for treating conditions caused by cold.

With their heating, exciting, and strengthening properties, spices can help warm up the soul and unlock emotions in people who are cool in nature. Therefore, spices are popularly used in aphrodisiac medicines.

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The citruses

The essences of citruses emanate smells of sour and sweet along with antiseptic properties. They possess refreshing qualities that can rejoice the heart, boost moods, and help eliminate emotional stress.

Natural citrus perfumes such as Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, and Orange among others have surprising abilities to improve immune response and alleviate symptoms of various nervous disorders.

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Final words

Olfactory psychology is the science that tells about how smells affect human psychology and the nervous system that is described in the field of psycho-aromatherapy and perfume therapy.

The knowledge of olfactory psychology is highly appreciated in the field of natural medicine systems in which natural perfumes and essential oils have historically been used for thousands of years to prevent and cure diverse health issues including physical, mental, and emotional conditions.

In olfactory psychology, every natural ingredient depicts an in-depth archetype of olfactory language that is closely affinized to many characteristics of the human psyche and can be used to treat issues associated with these emotional characters.

However, olfactory psychology demonstrates the astonishing effects of smells found in natural perfumes in activating several bodily functions such as the endocrine system and the nervous system, making it highly valued in the field of aromatherapy and perfume therapy.