Have you ever walked into a candy shop and just got a rush of happiness from the scent of the sweet treats around? Scents have a surprising amount of power over our emotions. Whether it’s the calming scent of lavender, or the nostalgic aroma of Christmas trees, it can instantly change how we feel. 

It’s backed up by science that our sense of smell is linked to the brain’s emotional center, the limbic system. Causing this link to allow scents to trigger emotional responses and release neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which are known to be the “feel-good” hormones.

So next time try any of these if you are feeling a certain way: citrus scents to have uplifting effects, lavender and chamomile scents to relax, and woody scents to help feeling warm and grounded. These are the most common ones used, there are a lot of other scents that can help bring out different emotions.

Alex Elicker, a sophomore, said “I’d say I somewhat agree that scent improves emotions, I think the smell of rubbing alcohol gives me the feeling of being uncomfortable and disgusted. While the smell of dogs makes me more relaxed and happy.”

Makenna Haldeman, a junior, said “Yeah I would agree that scent improves our emotions, and for a scent that affects my emotions are things that are like cucumber scented.”