The smell of cleanliness activates the desire to help

Can scents bring order? Moralize? Guide us back to the right path? It turns out that the scent of freshness and cleanliness has this power. When the air smells fresh and clean, people automatically become more decent, just, and generous. Generosity and morality increase after exposure to clean and fresh scents. This theory was demonstrated by researchers at Brigham Young University, led by Professor Katie Liljenquist. In two experiments, they demonstrated that the scent of cleanliness can change human behavior. The environment of fresh scents promotes honesty and the willingness to help Researchers compared volunteers' behavior in a neutral-scented room with one sprayed with lemon-flavored window cleaner. They had them perform tasks that assessed their honest intentions and willingness to help others. The first test was designed to test whether honesty goes hand in hand with fresh aromas. Participants were given $12 each. They were instructed to divide the money fairly between themselves and another person, supposedly from whom the money came, who was supposed to be seated in a separate room. In reality, the volunteers were alone. Being in the perfumed room had a positive effect on the volunteers' attitudes . They gave an average of $5.33 to their non-existent partner. Volunteers in the unscented room gave only $2.81. The second experiment tested human kindness. Participants were asked to indicate whether they wanted to support Habitat for Humanity, either through financial support or by volunteering. They rated this on a 7-point scale. Those in the scented room were more likely to volunteer , giving a score of 4.21, while those in the neutral space gave a score of 3.29. If they were to donate some of their funds, 22% of those in the scented room and 6% in the unscented room would do so. After completing the tasks, participants were asked if they were aware of any odors in the room. All agreed that they were unaware of any odors in the air. How can the results of experiments be transferred to everyday life? Professor Liljenquist's analysis demonstrates that cleanliness/freshness activates moral behavior. Smells can:

• promote ethical conduct,
• resolve misunderstandings and conflicts cheaply and easily,
• ensure safety in shops and offices.