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There is a wide variety of essential oil fragrances available, such as lavender, orange, lemon, rosemary, and fir. Some people diffuse them in their homes to benefit from their relaxing and soothing properties, while others simply enjoy their pleasant scent. However, even in the latter case, it could have unforeseen benefits.
A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience suggests that the scent of a perfume can have a positive impact on memory and contribute to the fight against dementia, especially when diffused in the bedroom before sleep.
Researchers from the University of California conducted a survey involving a group of 43 participants, men and women aged 60 to 85. They were divided into two groups, each with roughly the same number of participants. The first group was exposed to natural essential oils of different fragrances (rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, lavender, peppermint), while the second group only received perfume imitations devoid of the same properties.
Over a period of six months, participants from both groups diffused the essential oils or perfume imitations in their bedroom before going to bed. At the same time, they underwent neurological assessments to measure their memory, concentration, verbal learning abilities, among others, and brain imaging exams.
The results are remarkable: the cognitive performance of participants in the first group increased by 226%, and significant anatomical changes were observed in the brain regions related to memory.
Neurobiologist Michael Yassa, co-author of the study, explains: “The olfactory sense is particularly linked to the brain’s memory circuits.” The researchers thus conclude that diffusing perfume before bed in the bedroom could have benefits for the brain, memory, cognitive performance, and contribute to dementia prevention. According to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), nearly 10 million new cases of dementia are reported each year worldwide.”
