Want to be trusted? Choose lavender.

A study by researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands is the first to demonstrate the impact of scent on interpersonal trust. Various scents can evoke a multitude of emotions and memories. The scent of hay bales will transport you to those wonderful countryside holidays you remember so fondly from your childhood. The thought of fresh chocolate gingerbread will instantly excite you. Meanwhile, the scent of musk can inspire a fiery romance. And what scent will make you trust someone? According to the latest research, the scent of lavender will do it. Researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands wanted to determine whether the scent of lavender, which reduces fatigue, could influence interpersonal trust. To do this, they divided a team of healthy young people into three separate groups. One room was scented with lavender (a calming aroma), another with mint (an invigorating aroma), and the third was left unscented. The study leader distributed money to each group. Participants could keep it or give it to another member of the team. The researchers found that people in the lavender room were more likely to trust someone with their money than those in the mint room or the unscented room. Conclusions The scent of lavender encouraged mutual trust. The research described can be applied to a range of situations that require interpersonal trust, such as negotiations, teamwork, and consumer behavior. Inhaling the scent of lavender can help facilitate negotiations when selling a car, and in grocery stores, it can encourage consumers to buy more products. Furthermore, the aroma of lavender can be helpful in sports psychology, where mutual trust and building team spirit are particularly important in team sports.