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The Science of Scent

Does a Fruit’s Scent Make It Easier to Find?

An experiment with 22 people briefly displayed fruit images to test whether scent–target congruency changes performance. Accuracy, response time, and individual differences tell different parts of the story.
The Science of Scent

Do Lavender and Peppermint Reduce Missed Targets?

Does scent affect whether we miss the second of two rapidly appearing numbers? Three experiments analyzing 112 people found no lavender–peppermint difference, while examining presentation methods and personal associations.
The Science of Scent

Can Imagining a Scent Bring Back Memories?

In an experiment with 296 women, imagining smells brought personal memories to many participants. The study explores differences in pleasantness, memory age, and vividness.
The Science of Scent

Does Sensitivity to Odors Change Between Morning and Evening?

When 56 adults were tested four times from morning to evening, their mean scores for detecting faint odors changed. We examine how this relates to nasal airflow and morning or evening chronotypes.
The Science of Scent

Can Odors Serve as Landmarks for Remembering a Route?

Fifty-two people learned a virtual maze using pictures or odors as landmarks and were tested immediately and one month later. The study examined memory for route decisions separately from recognition of the landmarks themselves.
The Science of Scent

Can Smell Training Change What Children Notice?

Identifying an odor and paying attention to everyday smells are not the same thing. A 12-week preliminary study of children aged 6–9 measured both. We examine the possible increase in awareness with scented training and what remains unconfirmed.
The Science of Scent

Does Hearing Experience Affect How We Perceive Odors?

A comparison of 11 people with congenital severe-to-profound hearing loss and 11 hearing participants explores sensory adaptation through smell tests and tasks involving stimulation inside the nose.
The Science of Scent

Does the Brain Respond Differently When You Keep Smelling the Same Odor?

After 30 seconds of exposure to the same odor, perceived intensity and early brain responses changed. An experiment with 13 participants explores the relationship between odor habituation and early processing.
The Science of Scent

Does a Partner’s Smell Ease Stress?

Can a partner's body odor alone provide the reassurance of having them nearby? An experiment analyzing 179 people produced results that differed from expectations. Looking separately at perceived stress, heart rate, and hormones reveals the complexity of how smell affects us.
The Science of Scent

Is Scent-Induced Relaxation Just One Feeling?

A study developed a 12-item questionnaire to measure relaxation from scent. We explore why it captures nostalgia alongside feelings of release and negative emotions.