Can Scents Help Relieve Symptoms of Depression?
By : Kanan Levy
Believe it or not, the smell of grandma's cookies may help us get out of bed in the morning. It sounds like something straight out of a heartwarming story; however, research shows that the familiar, comforting aroma of fresh cookies wafting through the house has the power to instantly bring up memories of warmth, love, and nostalgia. Beyond just a pleasant memory, science tells us that certain smells can actually impact our mood and motivation. So, could the scent of grandma’s cookies be more than just a trigger for happy thoughts? Maybe it’s the secret ingredient to help kickstart our day. This post will explore how scent and memory work together to make mornings, and life as a whole, a little brighter.
Research conducted almost a year ago reveals that the scent of something can allow us to unlock those positive memories we store deep in our brains. With this in mind, psychologists are now interested in how this unique aspect of our mind can be used to help those who experience depression.
On February 13, 2024, Neuroscience News posted an article titled “Scents Enhance Memory Recall in Depression.” This article claimed that the act of smelling a familiar scent can help those who are depressed remember autobiographical memories (the events we experience throughout our lives). These memories have the ability to assist people in their recovery from depression by reminding them of a happy time in their lives.
The empirical article the news article mentioned above cites is “Recall of Autobiographical Memories Following Odor vs Verbal Cues Among Adults With Major Depressive Disorder” by Kymberley D. Young. Young is a researcher and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Researchers studied the rate at which adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder were able to recall an autobiographical memory in response to both word-cued and odor-cued stimuli. The results of the study showed that participants recalled more specific memories from their life when presented with an odor than when presented with a word, suggesting that the smell of something may aid recall more than the explanation of it.
What this means is the smell of grandma's cookies can, in fact, help us get out of bed in the morning and have the motivation to get on with our day. You may be asking yourself, how can this apply to those with diagnosed major depressive disorder (MDD)? How can the smell of something provide relief for a mental illness that affects almost 18% of people in the United States? To answer this question, I am going to provide you with a crash course on biological psychology.
In our brains, the olfactory bulb is a region designated to process the smells we encounter on a daily basis. This part of the brain bypasses the prefrontal regions, hippocampus, and amygdala, which are involved in both memory and emotion. With that wordy explanation under your belt, it is important to note that depressed people are unfortunately having a hard time using the areas explained above—areas that are very important to memory and emotion.
By introducing smells that those with MDD associate with positive memories in their lives, we can trigger the areas of the brain that are involved in memory recall and emotion in a positive way. One can think of this as a positive jolt to areas that are often underactive in those with depression.
By stimulating these areas through familiar, comforting scents, we might be able to help the brain reconnect with positive emotional memories. This kind of intervention could serve as a gentle reminder of happier times, offering a small but meaningful boost to mood and motivation.
How Can We Use These Findings to Our Advantage?
While more research is definitely needed to fully understand how scents influence memory and emotion in those with depression, this study shows that something as simple as a familiar smell could play a role in treatment. In the future, this could lead to the development of scent-based therapies or tools that help individuals with depression recall positive memories, boost their mood, and ultimately feel more connected to the world around them.
A real-world example of putting these findings into practice can happen right in your home! It could be as simple as using a scent diffuser, applying an essential oil, or even using a scent strip designed specifically for this purpose. For example, lavender is known for its calming properties, while citrus may provide an energy or mood boost to start your morning. This, paired with a personal, positive experience in which the scent was present, can result in a happier, more productive life.
In my life, I use a diffuser at home around bedtime. I use essential oils filled with lavender and valerian root. These act as natural remedies that calm my mind and prepare me for a long and restful 8 hours of sleep.
By pairing scent with other treatment methods, such as mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises, patients could be empowered to access positive emotional states more effectively, leading to enhanced overall well-being. So, who knows? That sweet smell of grandma’s cookies might just be a small but powerful step toward brighter mornings for those struggling with mental health.
Putting Things Into Perspective
While scent-based therapies surely show promising potential, it’s important to acknowledge that they aren’t a substitute for other forms of mental health treatment, such as therapy or medication. For those dealing with clinical depression or other mental health conditions, scent therapy should be viewed as a complementary tool—something that can help enhance mood but is not a standalone solution.
References:
Leiker, Emily K., et al. “Recall of autobiographical memories following odor vs verbal cues among adults with major depressive disorder.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 7, no. 2, 13 Feb. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.55958.
Gorelova, Anastasia. “Scents Enhance Memory Recall in Depression.” Neuroscience News, 13 Feb. 2024, neurosciencenews.com/memory-depression-olfaction-25606/.
Verywell Health. (2023, May 26). How smell affects your brain health. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/smell-and-brain-health-8732160
