Scent Memory And How Fragrances Affect Your Mood
气味和香气影响您的心情
By Greta Brinkley
..您是否曾经质疑气味如何影响您的情绪……好坏？有没有想过为什么气味和情感首先如此紧密地联系在一起，或者哪种气味可以改善您的情绪并动摇午后的低迷状态？
气味与情绪之间的联系
要了解为什么气味在情绪中起着如此重要的作用，首先必须研究一下大脑如何处理情绪。大脑深处是一个称为边缘系统的区域。这个区域负责处理情绪和记忆。它也与我们的嗅球相连，嗅球首先使人闻到气味。因此，在您甚至无法识别出您祖母自制的糖饼干中闻到的气味之前，您的边缘系统已经将该气味与一种情感以及可能的记忆联系在一起。然后，您的高级大脑会识别出这种气味。
什么气味可以改善您的心情？
有各种各样令人愉快的香气。但是，哪种气味可以改善您的心情，很大程度上取决于个人喜好，而对一个人而言美妙的事可能对下一个人不利。也就是说，有一些几乎普遍的宜人的气味，例如香草和肉桂。这些气味还可以减轻焦虑情绪，并减轻情绪。
唤醒困倦的气味
如果您感到困倦，还有几种令人愉悦的气味可以唤醒您。其中最著名的是柑橘香（特别是橙色和柠檬），迷迭香和薄荷味。这些香气倾向于促进清晰的思维，创造力和增加的能量。
无论您自己选择哪种香气，都可以买到各种各样的香薰蜡烛，精油和用蜡制成像蛋挞状的香味艺术品，它们会在您的家庭或工作区中流过所需的香气。您会发现自己的心情，注意力和精力得到了改善，下一次有人问您为什么新鲜草坪割草的气味使他们感到自己像在星期六的下午和父亲打棒球时的感觉，您就能够解释了。
讨论问题：
您从本文中学到了什么新东西或有趣的东西？
您认为香水会影响您的情绪吗？请举例说明为什么或为什么不这样做。
请为您描述与记忆相关的一种或多种气味？
如果您在日常生活中使用香气，例如香皂，蜡烛，香精油或蜡，您会使用什么香气？它对您有什么影响？
... Have you ever questioned how scents can affect your mood ... for better or worse? Ever wondered why scent and emotion are tied so strongly together in the first place or what scents can improve your mood and shake the dozy doldrums of mid-afternoon?
THE LINK BETWEEN SCENT AND MOOD
To understand why scent plays such a powerful role in mood, it is first necessary to look at how the brain processes emotion. Deep inside your brain is an area called the limbic system. This area is responsible for processing both emotion and memory. It is also tied to our olfactory bulbs, the organs that allow people to smell odors in the first place. So before you can even identify the scent you are smelling as your grandma’s homemade sugar cookies, your limbic system has already associated the scent with an emotion and possibly a memory as well. Then your higher brain identifies the scent.
WHAT SCENTS CAN IMPROVE YOUR MOOD?
There are a variety of pleasant aromas. However, what scent improves your mood is largely a matter of personal preference and what is wonderful to one person may be deplorable to the next. That said, there are some almost universal pleasant scents, such as vanilla and cinnamon. These scents also tend to lower anxiety as well as lifting mood.
SHAKING THE DOZY DOLDRUMS
There are also several pleasant scents which can wake you up if you are feeling drowsy. Some of the best known of these are the citrus scents, (orange and lemon especially), rosemary and peppermint. These aromas tend to promote clear thinking, creativity and increased energy.
No matter which pleasant scent you pick for your own, there are a wide range of scented candles, essential oils and wax tartlets you can buy that will get the desired aroma flowing through your home or work area. You will find your mood, focus and energy improved, and the next time someone asks you why it is that the smell of a freshly mowed lawn makes them feel like they were playing baseball with their father on a Saturday afternoon, you will be able to explain.
Source: https://www.gretasday.com/scent-memory-fragrances-affect-mood/
Discussion questions:
What is something new or interesting you learned from this article?
Do you think fragrances can affect your mood? Please give an example of why or why not.
Please describe a scent or scents that is associated with a memory for you?
If you use scents in your daily life, like scented soaps or candles, essential oils, or wax tartlets, what scents do you use? What effect does it have for you?
