The Power of Fragrance on Mood

Our response to scent is primal; along with touch, it’s one of the first senses to fully develop. From birth, through experience and genetics, we build up a scent bank and rely on our olfactory systems to understand the world around us.

This is why the power of perfume — and its fascinating link to our emotions — can be distilled down to how the human body processes smell. Smell alone has a direct line to our limbic system, the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses — which can describe the immediate, visceral sensation we feel when we inhale an aroma (or any odor-related experience).

Human beings can distinguish up to 1 trillion scents, each of which is made up of a mixture of different odor molecules that induce a unique electrical signal pattern in the olfactory system. Physiologically, smells are detected in the brain through the olfactory bulb and send signals to the amygdala and hippocampus, the regions directly related to memory and emotion. This can explain why different scents induce different effects on mood and awaken dormant memories.

Unlike any other sensory system in the human body, the olfactory signal can be directly transmitted to the brain’s cortex — meaning our noses provide a link to our external environments and our central nervous system, more so than any other of our senses. In fact, 75% of the emotions we feel everyday are inspired by smell, explaining why fragrance has the ability to quickly shift our emotional state.

Fine Fragrance for Well-Being

You can think of aroma as a remedy for bad moods – or conversely, as a modality for well-being. Since the beginning of recorded history, aromatic plants have been used for mental, spiritual, and physical healing. Therefore, spraying ourselves with fine functional fragrances—has direct mind-body benefits, ranging from emotional balance to stress prevention.  Research has even been found fragrance  as a remedy for headaches, insomnia, depression, and digestive problems. 

“Fine fragrance isn’t necessarily a medicine, but…when you wear an essential oil based scent, it can awaken your emotions, so you begin to feel more connected to yourself. It’s both a gentle and powerful way to improve overall well-being,” says Darcy Moore, Belnu Founder.

All of this explains why fragrance is so closely linked to our feelings — and why the power of a good scent isn’t just about how it smells, but how it stimulates the spirit. 

Stimulate, relax, calm, awaken — use some of our favorite scents based on the message you want your brain to send to your body:

1. For centering and balance: Frankincense and Sage
2. For restoration and stress reduction: Eucalyptus and Peppermint
3. For relaxation and sleep: Lavender and Chamomile