Most offices have a base note of stale coffee, a hint of photocopier toner and a whiff of despair. What you smell can influence your mood, so it's a little bit crazy we don't pay more attention to the scent of our workplace.
In Japan, it's not unusual for workplaces to use scent to revive or relax workers, depending on the time of day. A study from Japanese fragrance company Takasago recently showed that typos were reduced by more than 50% when a lemon scent was diffused into the air.
Meanwhile, in the shopping world, companies have been offering "
" TARGET="_blank">scent branding" for retail premises for years in order to enhance the "overall sensory customer experience" - a.k.a make us all spend more money.
So which fragrances can improve your faculties? And what scents can scintillate your brain? We've taken a look at some key smells that could up your office's productivity levels.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary is credited with helping clear thinking, improving memory and energizing your mind.
2. Jasmine
In addition to helping relaxation, Jasmine can ease tension and nerves.
3. Citrus
All citrus smells offer positive benefits. Grapefruit can help fight mental exhaustion, lemon is uplifting, orange can ease stress and bergamot oil is even used to treat depression.
4. Lavender
A very calming scent, lavender relieves stress and reduces anxiety.
5. Peppermint
Minty smells are energizing and refreshing. Peppermint is said to aid concentration and stimulate the mind.
Practicalities
If you're going to go down the essential oils route, then be sure to read up on safety tips first. As most office managers would rather eat their own clipboard than even consider a naked flame in the office, you're probably going to need to look at alternatives to scented candles or traditional oil burners.
You can buy battery-operated oil diffusers, plug-in humidifiers or even USB-powered options. A bowl of water with a few drops of oil near a heat source can make a difference in air quality. A dish of scented potpourri poses no health or safety risks, and the same goes for scented sachets or bamboo fragrance sticks. If it's not going to offend anyone who shares your office space, you could spritz a scent every time you feel yourself dragging.
Finally, if you're really on your own in wanting to inhale some mood-enhancing smells, a quick sniff of a scented handkerchief might be enough to give your brain a boost.