The Power Of Smell

[MyNameIsTerry]

Hi all,

I thought I would post a couple of interesting studies I came across a while ago that talk about how smell works with our anxiety.

2012 Study.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322100317.htm

Smells also evoke powerful emotional responses in humans.

The skin conductance results showed that anxiety also heightened emotional arousal to smell-induced threats.

The authors uncovered amplified communication between the sensory and emotional areas of the brain in response to negative odors, particularly in anxiety. This increased connectivity could be responsible for the heightened arousal to threats.

2013 Study.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130924174150.htm

"After anxiety induction, neutral smells become clearly negative,"

"People experiencing an increase in anxiety show a decrease in the perceived pleasantness of odors. It becomes more negative as anxiety increases."

In the course of the experiment, the Wisconsin team observed that two distinct and typically independent circuits of the brain -- one dedicated to olfactory processing, the other to emotion -- become intimately intertwined under conditions of anxiety.

"In typical odor processing, it is usually just the olfactory system that gets activated," says Li. "But when a person becomes anxious, the emotional system becomes part of the olfactory processing stream."

"We encounter anxiety and as a result we experience the world more negatively. The environment smells bad in the context of anxiety. It can become a vicious cycle, making one more susceptible to a clinical state of anxiety as the effects accumulate. It can potentially lead to a higher level of emotional disturbances with rising ambient sensory stress."

This shows that perhaps we could alter our environment to be less negative. Perhaps we can look towards incorporating more positive smells to reduce susceptibility to triggers? Maybe at least by doing this we prevent adding to our anxiety from negative odours that may typically be there?

So, does this also raise how positive smells work for us? I guess I will have to look for some studies to show that too but I think they do as how often have you felt some relief or uplifted from certain smells?

---------- Post added at 09:46 ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 ----------

Some interesting information on positive smells:

http://www.sirc.org/publik/smell_emotion.html

Its interesting how a mere mention of a positive smell can produce a positive effect. I wonder whether we can somehow use that to our advantage?

I can remember finding sniffing a lavender balm helpful to me when I was quite bad. When I walk about supermarkets, I tend to have a smell of a few of the candles. I like the floral ones and vanilla as I find they seem to give me a slight boost at that point, even if it is a quick emotional feeling that lasts a matter of 5-10 seconds.

[Florence20]

Great post :)

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thanks, Florence.

[Pipkin]

Very interesting Terry. I've always thought I had an acute sense of smell and I wonder if this is part of it. Like you, I also find positive smells have a positive effect on my mood for a short time.

Pip

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thanks Pipkin. The fight or flight response does also sharpen senses, including smell, for obvious reasons.

I found it interesting how we basically make our anxiety worse even at an autonomic level with smells alone. So, its another case for what we do in noticed & dealing with our triggers and how we need to include any negative smells into that equation.

I was trying to find something to add about using positive smells but none of it seemed relevant. Hopefully the people doing this type of research will look at that at some point.

[SarahH]

I can just think of the smell of the sea and it relaxes me.... oh and freshly cut grass and cherry blossom... try it ...it really does work:)

Sarah

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thats a very interesting point to raise Sarah "Most Naughty-ish Member Ever" H :D

Memory stores things like this together so a bad smell can be linked but so can a good one. You use it in a positive way by actively recalling the memory and making yourself feel better. Thats a great skill to use.

I wonder if by being in less uplifting environments we compromise our mood or leave ourselves open to mood changes? For instance, in offices where its all very sterile.

If you visualise a linked memory, does it bring it back easier or make the experience richer? I've just tried that with a nice vanilla candle I always have a smell of in the supermarket which gives me a boost. It seemed easier to me to visualise myself standing there holding it and taking a sniff.

[Cheesemonster13]

Yes, I've been burning sweet orange oil in an oil burner when I relax, and I find it very soothing.

Also, I've started making mint tea using mint from my garden, as it helps with my IBS. When I add the hot water to the mint, the smell it gives off seems to lift my spirits for some reason.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Mint is an envigorating smell. I used to like having a sniff of those Vic's inhalers despite not even having a cold. They just seem to give you some brief clarity.

Candles are used in meditation but its usually as a focal point. I'm not sure about the use of smell but it would be a very good way to use different smells to deepen a reflective experience as you could select different ones for different tasks.

Oil burners seem all the rage these days. I bought my mum one for Xmas a few years back. The oil packs are usually well priced and there is a large range.

I used mint tea for a bout of mild IBS last year and it did really help. I gather it's pretty easy to grow too.

Chocolate aromas are also very good. Since dark chocolate has benefits with anxiety, I wonder if the smell does in some way?

[ricardo]

Very interesting Terry.


I believe the article, and also if one has GAD or a similar illness one can make it up by being extra observant and notice things that other people without any form of mental illness never see or even think about.

By the way I love the smell of freshly laid tar :D

[Cheesemonster13]

You can grow mint in a small pot outside, MyNameIsTerry, and then you can just pick what you need. It is very invasive, so it's best not to grow it in your garden, as it will out-compete almost everything else. Buy the common mint, rather than one of the speciality ones they sell in the garden centre.

Pick and then tear the leaves roughly, add boiling water and leave for about ten minutes to brew. It smells wonderful, and fresh mint is much stronger and more effective than commercial mint teas. :)

Oh, and I've just checked, you can grow mint indoors if you don't have a garden.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Very interesting Terry.


I believe the article, and also if one has GAD or a similar illness one can make it up by being extra observant and notice things that other people without any form of mental illness never see or even think about.

By the way I love the smell of freshly laid tar :D

Yes, definately and the studies also show that our brain will make something without a smell have a bad one so.

As a kid I always loved the smell of the diesel spills on the road :D

---------- Post added at 11:37 ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 ----------


You can grow mint in a small pot outside, MyNameIsTerry, and then you can just pick what you need. It is very invasive, so it's best not to grow it in your garden, as it will out-compete almost everything else. Buy the common mint, rather than one of the speciality ones they sell in the garden centre.

Pick and then tear the leaves roughly, add boiling water and leave for about ten minutes to brew. It smells wonderful, and fresh mint is much stronger and more effective than commercial mint teas. :)

Oh, and I've just checked, you can grow mint indoors if you don't have a garden.

Yes, I thought so just like other herbs.

I bet it also tastes a lot better than commercial ones, usually anything homegrown seems to.

[ricardo]

Yes, definately and the studies also show that our brain will make something without a smell have a bad one so.


You obviously are going out with the wrong type of girl Terry :shades:

[MyNameIsTerry]

You obviously are going out with the wrong type of girl Terry :shades:

:D could have been worse, when I was young sniffing things like that for a high were all the rage along with the mushies :ohmy:

[SarahH]

Yes bad memories can also be triggered by smell (PTSD can include all the senses0. I learnt to visualise including sounds and smells with EMDR. A good psychologist will teach you this. Its a great relaxation technique.... when stressed/anxious I go to my "safe place" in my mind.

Sarah

[MyNameIsTerry]

Yes bad memories can also be triggered by smell (PTSD can include all the senses0. I learnt to visualise including sounds and smells with EMDR. A good psychologist will teach you this. Its a great relaxation technique.... when stressed/anxious I go to my "safe place" in my mind.

Sarah

That's reminding me of the penguin in the cave in Fight Club :yesyes:

So, do you mean that you use that skill in a positive way to lift your mood by remembering good things or to remember good smells or both, etc?

[Pipkin]

There's a point in one of the articles that's me exactly. I like the smell of petrol which takes me back to the 70s (the decade, not my 70s - I'm not there yet) when I used to help my dad fill up the the Austin Princess (for the young ones, that's a car not a member of the royal family). That was when it was always sunny, dog poo was white and the cars never started on a damp morning. Shame I have a diesel now..

Pip

[SarahH]

Ha ha ha "white poo" ...now what happened to that?!!

Yes Terry I use it in a positive way... its another tool in my box of tricks to get me through life:)

[Carnation]

I have lavender in the car to calm me when I am travelling.

I love the smell of cut grass, creosote and washing dried on a line outside.

I hate the smell of hops brewing and had to suffer it many times when my Dad used to brew his own beer.

[dally]

I love the smell of fressias, leather school bags, plastic tiny tears dolls. Babies dusted with Johnstones baby powder.(doesn't smell the same on an adult. Cluttie dumpling.
Hate, lavender coffee, cigarette smoke, all channel perfumes!!

[swgrl09]

I believe anything that combines more than one of our five senses is more impactful, especially with memory. I have found this with scent, such as aromatherapy, as well as sound, like with music. Like Carnation, I like lavender and was surprised at how relaxed I was when I used some drops in my aromatherapy steam machine. It helped me calm down at the end of the day. When I smell the perfume my mom used to wear, I get teary. I love freshly cut grass, coffee, the ocean, and bacon!! All smells that cheer me up.

With sounds, music can trigger memories more intensely than just thinking of the memory. Also touch, taste, etc.

[blue moon]

Lavender and Frankincense are beautiful,they have calming qualities,they have become my security blanket.

[SarahH]

Getting into bed with fresh bedding dried on a washing line..... and ironed of course:D

[Carnation]

Just done that SarahH, but I have not ironed. :D
Used to, but can't be bothered anymore.

[SarahH]

oooo! Carnation... just iron the pillow cases then........ its lush:D (Wiltshire speak)

[MyNameIsTerry]

its lush:D (Wiltshire speak)

...and Barry Island :D

---------- Post added at 04:35 ---------- Previous post was at 04:33 ----------


There's a point in one of the articles that's me exactly. I like the smell of petrol which takes me back to the 70s (the decade, not my 70s - I'm not there yet) when I used to help my dad fill up the the Austin Princess (for the young ones, that's a car not a member of the royal family). That was when it was always sunny, dog poo was white and the cars never started on a damp morning. Shame I have a diesel now..

Pip

Its funny, isn't it? Smelling diesel spills seems to take me back a bit as I used to like them when walking to school.

My GF always said to use smells that evoke positive memories and she has been through depression many years ago.

White dog poo, that takes me back! Wasn't it a chemical in the feed?

---------- Post added at 04:39 ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 ----------

I used to put lavender drops on my pillows too when I first went through all this. It seemed to help. Still got some somewhere. The guy who owns the local healthfood shop recommended it.

I did have a French lavender bottle that you put those wooden strips in. A diffuser I think they are called.

Does anyone have certain foods that they are tempted by when watching certain programmes or from certain memories? I think some of that is smell too but in reverse as you get reminded and then experience it as smell & taste but also as a happy memory.

Before all this I would go through phases of eating tons of wotsits with the same films, coming in plastered and getting a pizza on to certain films, etc. Ahh, positive OCD! :yesyes:

[MyNameIsTerry]

You can grow mint in a small pot outside, MyNameIsTerry, and then you can just pick what you need. It is very invasive, so it's best not to grow it in your garden, as it will out-compete almost everything else. Buy the common mint, rather than one of the speciality ones they sell in the garden centre.

Pick and then tear the leaves roughly, add boiling water and leave for about ten minutes to brew. It smells wonderful, and fresh mint is much stronger and more effective than commercial mint teas. :)

Oh, and I've just checked, you can grow mint indoors if you don't have a garden.

So, do you grow peppermint or is the common mint the same in treating IBS? I've only ever seen peppermint when I've looked for remedies for it.

[Carnation]

I used to eat those awful kebabs when I was a teenager Terry.
There would be a long queue for a 'Donna' after the pub had closed.
Another one was cheese and crackers, probably to soak up all that booze.:noangel:

[MyNameIsTerry]

I used to really go for a pizza slice from the kebab shop when I had been out drinking. I never had kebab's much. I remember having a burger from one of those mobile stand things and being a bit off the next day and had a sore throat for some reason.

[Cheesemonster13]

So, do you grow peppermint or is the common mint the same in treating IBS? I've only ever seen peppermint when I've looked for remedies for it.

Sorry, MyNameIsTerry, I meant peppermint when I wrote common mint. It's only that the garden centres sell different types of mints now, and someone told me some of the variations aren't as easy to grow.

I grow peppermint, and I think it might even have been one of those pots that you get in the supermarket. I just put it in a bigger pot, and keep it by the back door.

Apparently mint is a natural analgesic!

[bekw89]

I experienced this the other day using a shower gel that reminded me of a happy time, felt instantly positive for a few seconds.

[lindy lou 2]

This is all very interesting, I have noticed how smells affect me, the strange thing is, the perfume I used to wear now seems to nauseate me. I cut the grass the other day, & love the smell of it wafting into the house, perhaps because that is a natural smell ?

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thanks Cheesemonster.

It probably is a reminder of being in the sun, Lindy. Nature can be grounding.

[radja]

great post

[yogibear]

What an interesting read, thanks Terry! Smells are slowly ruining my life so I definitely appreciate this article!

[amyneedshelp]

My house is full of lavender smell to help me calm down..and I'm sure it works a bit but then I seem to get use to the smell...it would be great that when my panic starts there would be a smell just to calm it right down..love the article and I love the aroma chocolate tip xx

[MyNameIsTerry]

Thanks radja, yogibear and amyneedshelp. I'm glad you found it interesting.

I did try to find some information on positive smells but there doesn't seem to be much out there.