Boosting productivity in your work place with scents

Many people don’t realize that aromatherapy can be a powerful tool. Scents are tied directly to the part of the brain that is linked to memory and emotion, so scents can influence both.

We all know that coffee can increase alertness, but did you know that the smell of it can have a similar impact? One study points that just the scent alone can help people perform better on analytical reasoning tasks.

Smells, however, bypass the thalamus and head straight to the olfactory bulb, which is directly connected to the hippocampus (which is responsible for your memory) and the amygdala (where you process your emotions). Because odors are first routed through these regions before reaching the thalamus, they’re more closely linked to memory. This explains why aromatherapy can have a profound effect on our emotional, physical and mental state.

In fact, studies has found that certain scents that evoke positive autobiographical memories may be able to also lift the mood and reduce stress. There are scores of other studies that show scents affect things like memory, concentration, sustained attention and cognitive function to improve productivity.

1. Rosemary Rosemary which is commonly used in the kitchen, has a positive effect on memory which increases alertness in individuals exposed to the odor.

2. Coffee It’s well known that ingesting coffee can promotes wakefulness, but its scent can also increase alertness. In fact, students who smelled coffee performed better on analytical reasoning tasks. The smell had a similar effect to if they had ingested the coffee.

3. Lemon The tangy scent of lemon arouses the senses and improves cognitive function.

5. Jasmine The smell of jasmine has a stimulatory effect on the nervous system which could be used to re-energize and promote a sense of well-being and a positive mood.

6. Citrus Bright, light citrus aromas are helpful for staying awake and alert.Exposure to the scent increased physical activity and shortened response time.

7. Cinnamon Researchers find that the scent of cinnamon improves performance on tasks that require heightened attention which also increases motor response speed and improves memory.

8. Peppermint When given a whiff of peppermint essential oil, subjects of one study showed improved sustained attention, allowing them to concentrate on demanding tasks for longer.

9. Ginger The sharp, aromatic smell of ginger fights fatigue and eases pain. It’s the perfect combination to help you power through a deadline or write complex code.