Stimulating scents improve work performance, mood, and alertness

Stimulating scents like mint and cinnamon minimize anxiety, frustration, and fatigue. They increase alertness and make time pass more quickly. All of these factors are crucial for tiring, monotonous tasks where mistakes can result in death. Over the past decade, scientists have conducted a number of studies (using various psychological approaches) examining the effects of calming and arousing scents. We examine an experiment by American scientists who tested the effects of stimulating scents on alertness and performance. Their results were published in 2009 in the North American Journal of Psychology. What was the subject of the experiment? Previous research has shown that cinnamon and mint influence alertness, motivation, and task performance. Both scents have an arousing potential (as opposed to calming and soothing scents). The experiment aimed to examine the effects of these scents during a specific task. This time, it was driving. Why did you choose driving? Researchers have estimated that the total annual cost of road accidents is $150 billion. Nearly one million of these accidents are the result of poor driver alertness. Any measure that can reduce the number of accidents and fatalities is crucial. What was the test like? Researchers recruited 25 students. They participated in a simulated driving experience. Each was placed in a virtual driving simulator, where they were equipped with a nasal device that delivered:

• oxygen with cinnamon oil,
• oxygen alone,
• oxygen with peppermint oil.

The machine was programmed with driving scenarios and a path to follow. It resembled a normal car, with accelerator and brake pedals, a windshield, a steering wheel, and so on. During the simulated driving, workers assessed at regular intervals:

• state of mood,
• work circumstances (how the described test affected the participants mentally and physically),
• time conditions (how quickly time passed),
• students' reaction (effort, frustration),
• level of alertness.

Each student rode 3 series of 2 hours each (each ride took place at two-day intervals). What conclusions did the scientists reach? Americans have proven that the scent of peppermint and cinnamon can be used to intensify performance during work that requires concentration. Anxiety: Peppermint reduced anxiety in each series. Fatigue: Peppermint reduced fatigue in each ride. Cinnamon gradually minimized fatigue—a late-ride effect. Time conditioning: Both mint and cinnamon gave participants the feeling that time passed faster (compared to the simulator without scent). Frustration: Mint and cinnamon reduced driving frustration (compared to a simulator without scent). Alertness: Both mint and cinnamon increased alertness throughout the experiment (compared to the unscented simulation).