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A Dose of Good Scents

The role of our sense of smell in triggering memories and/or an emotional response is well documented. Now, however, there is an increasing body of evidence that suggests that the artful deployment of scents can actually have a positive impact on physical debilitation and improved recovery times for patients.

Scent Technologies Ltd. - a commercial operation which has developed a state-of-the-art fragrance generator and a varied selection of specially formulated essences-has successfully trialled the prototype in a number of medical institutions, including nursing homes, hospices and NHS hospitals*. In each instance, an uplifting citrus - based essence was used, supplemented in some instances by neutralising essence, and relaxing lavender-based scents designed to soothe and calm.

Although no clinical trials were carried out, anecdotal evidence suggested a significant improvement in patient recovery times, while staff and visitors also reported an increase in mood and morale. Patients suffering from dementia in an Elderly Mentally Ill (EMI) Unit were reported to have benefited from the specially formulated lavender-based essence, which may also underline the broader psychological benefits of removing the permanent sensory reminders of illness and hospitalisation.

Commenting on the results to date, Scent Technologies Ltd. Marketing Director Loretta MacInnes: said: "The ST Pro machine is designed to stimulate the sense of smell by dispersing tiny particles of safe and clean scents into the atmosphere. Working on the principal of Venturi Airflow and using specially formulated essences, the ST Pro does not use vibration or heat of any kind. It is therefore able to neutralise malodours and disperse a huge range of scents without promoting the breeding of bacteria or producing residue, or sedimentation into the atmosphere. This makes it perfect for healthcare environments and all the evidence to date suggests that it could prove a valuable asset to patient care in the future".

The Scent Technologies Ltd. experience is not unusual in linking olfactory technology to medical care. According to research published in 1999**, if smell can be associated with a positive healing treatment, then the smell itself could substitute for the treatment once the link has been established. In the example cited by Stockhorst and Gritzmann, when four healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin, their blood glucose levels fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a particular smell. On the fifth day, they were just given the smell, and their blood glucose fell again.

"Of course, the ST Pro is not a treatment in itself", concludes MacInnes, "but it does appear to have a therapeutic benefit". It would therefore seem counter-productive not to build on the emerging evidence to date and give olfactory technology such as ours a serious and sustained clinical trial.