Did you know that there are certain scents that make you happy—and that there’s real science behind how they work?
Scent and emotion are closely linked. And, many of the smells that you’re naturally drawn to are appealing specifically because of how they interact with your olfactory receptors.
This unique occurrence is due to the connection between your olfactory receptors and the limbic system of your brain, which is responsible for helping you regulate and process your emotions. So, when you surround yourself with scents that make you happy, you’re actually sending very clear signals to your brain about how you want to feel and how to make it happen.
Because our scent associations are a largely personal thing, each of us has specific smells that invoke specific emotions. But when a mood boost is in order, there are certain scents that make you happy on a broader level, and they might be just the ticket to invoking more positivity in your day.
How to Improve Your Mood with Scents
Every time you’re exposed to a scent it sends a message to your brain. This gives scents a very powerful ability to affect your mood and brighten your day, and is one of the key factors behind aromatherapy’s therapeutic benefits.
You know better than anyone what scents you feel connected to. But if you’re looking for some additional guidance, here are some of the scents that can spur on happiness and other feel-good emotions.
Mood-boosting essential oils
There are certain scents with a known ability to increase happiness. These include:
- Lavender – A floral scent that can induce feelings of calm and relaxation.
- Pine – A naturally stress-relieving scent.
- Ylang ylang – A tropical scent associated with calmness and more positive energy.
- Vanilla – A warming scent that has been shown to lower stress and improve moods.
If you’re feeling sluggish, a productivity-improving scent could help you get over the hump—and help you feel happier in the process.
- Peppermint – A scent that leaves you feeling invigorated and more energetic.
- Citrus – Orange, lemon, and pink grapefruit scents can all give you a much-needed boost of energy.
- Jasmine – An uplifting scent that can calm nerves and improve confidence and optimism.
- Rosemary – An herbaceous scent that’s been shown to improve memory and alertness.
Enjoy Fragrance Therapy at Home
Once you find the scents that make you happy, you can incorporate them more fully into your living space for a mood boost that stays with you throughout the entire day. Our scent products are designed to do just that, with a huge range of high-quality, non-toxic aromas that are easy to enjoy at home, in the office, and on the go.
Want something more specific? Work with our team to design a custom signature scent that is perfectly formulated to how you want to feel, whether you’re looking for an improved mood, more energy, or increased relaxation—or all three!
Combined with our aromatherapy diffusers, our scents put you on the fast track to better feelings. Try for yourself and see (and smell) what a difference scent therapy can make in your day.
FAQs
Peppermint – A scent that leaves you feeling invigorated and more energetic. Citrus – Orange, lemon, and pink grapefruit scents can all give you a much-needed boost of energy. Jasmine – An uplifting scent that can calm nerves and improve confidence and optimism.
What is the scent of happiness? ›
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”.
What scent is uplifting? ›
Citrus (Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit)
They have the ability to uplift the mood, reduce stress, and increase levels of alertness. The bright, zesty aromas of lemon, orange, and grapefruit can cut through feelings of sluggishness or moodiness, imbuing your space with a sense of freshness and energy.
What scent changes your mood? ›
Citrus scents, such as lemon, orange, and grapefruit, are known for their uplifting and energizing effects. These fragrances can help improve mood, increase alertness, and reduce feelings of fatigue, making them perfect for kick-starting your day or overcoming an afternoon slump.
What smells get you in the mood? ›
Even today, people use scents like vanilla, lavender, cinnamon and jasmine in perfumes to set the mood.
What scent calms you? ›
Lavender is one of the most popular scents, and for a good reason. It's known to be relaxing and calming, making it an excellent choice if you want to unwind after a long day. The scent of lavender has also been shown to help with stress and anxiety in some people.
What scent is joy? ›
Joy is composed primarily of a combination of jasmine and rose; 10,000 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen roses are required to create 30ml of the parfum, contributing to its high retail price. Joy also contains other flowers such as ylang ylang, champak, and tuberose.
Which smell brings positive energy? ›
Peppermint
A known energy booster, peppermint invigorates the mind, promotes concentration and stimulates clear thinking. It is one of the best scents for focus. Find uplifting peppermint in our Onsen collection, along with eucalyptus and mandarin.
What smell does everyone love? ›
And according to the results, vanilla is the most pleasing smell around, followed by ethyl butyrate, which smells like peaches.
Which fragrance is best for depression? ›
The floral yet earthy scent of lavender oil is often valued for its calming effects. Research suggests that lavender aromatherapy may help: relieve anxiety. decrease stress.
From a list of ten unique scents, survey respondents from a variety of cultural backgrounds all ranked vanilla the most pleasant, reports Peter Dockrill for Science Alert. Researchers suggest there may be an evolutionary basis for the universal aroma preference, reports Peter Dockrill for Science Alert.
What scent makes you the happiest? ›
These six fragrances are commonly believed to be the world's most happy aromas – the scents most connected to positive associations and moods. Citrus (Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot, Lime) – citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot, lime) are thought of as feel-good, mood lifting, and energy boosting.
Which of these smells makes you happiest? ›
Lavender – A scent that's loved by almost everyone due to its enormous benefits on health and boosting up the mood. It has subtle notes, and its scent does wonders to the human brain. Are you feeling anything? Lavender, it is for you!
What scents make you feel full? ›
Recent research indicates that aromas such as peppermint, citrus and vanilla may help control your appetite and alleviate cravings, making them good scents for weight loss. And although further research is certainly warranted in this area, there's certainly no harm in adding these scents to your life.
What kind of scent is happy? ›
A pleasant citrus-floral perfume from Clinique. Like it's male counterpart also by Clinique, Happy has a bright, white floral quality that is colored by citrus peel elements from the red grapefruit and bergamot. Happy is a rather clean, uplifting perfume with a slightly pungent edge that warms it down ever so slightly.
