New Findings Suggest Aromatherapy May Benefit Cognitive Function

A group of researchers at the University of California–Irvine found that diffusing essential oils for a few hours each night was associated with enhanced cognitive performance.

The study, published in Frontiers of Neuroscience1, featured 43 participants (both male and female) aged 60 to 85. Everyone in the group received a diffuser to use at home for six months. Twenty participants were instructed to diffuse an essential oil for two hours every night before bed, while the rest of them (the control group) ran their diffusers with distilled water that didn't carry a noticeable scent.

Before and after the six-month trial, researchers conducted neuropsychological assessments like word recall tests and short-term memory quizzes, along with fMRI scans to assess cognitive function and physical changes in the brain. In the end, they found that those who used the essential oils showed a 226% improvement in cognitive performance measures like verbal learning and memory2 compared to the control group.

Plus, there are many different ways to do it—even if you don't own a diffuser. "Exposing ourselves to a greater variety of scents...by various methods (for example, flowers, candles, diffusers, bath and body products) can improve cognition (thinking, verbal, or memory) and create physical changes in the brain," neuroscientist Tara Swart, M.D., Ph.D., tells mindbodygreen.

The goal is to flex your sense of smell in some fashion. "Stimulating our sense of smell can improve function in the olfactory system," Swart explains, which is great for the longevity of your sense as well (read: maintaining a strong sense of smell as you age). 

Scent stimulation might be especially effective in the evening, Swart suggests. "Nighttime is a good window as it's approximately eight hours where the olfactory nerve can be gently stimulated without interruption," she explains.

You'll want to be cautious about leaving any device on overnight or overexposing yourself to essential oils. So consider looking for a diffuser with a "timed-release" feature or capping your next essential oil session to two hours or less, as they did in the study.