A New Study Shows Scents Can Help Improve Positive Memory Recall & Boost Your Mood

I treat fragrance like heirlooms. Precious little keepsakes that are too sacred to ever part with. Each and every one that finds its way into my fragrance wardrobe is highly curated. And once there, once it’s nestled into my inner circle, it almost never gets the boot. How could I possibly part with something that I’ve built such a strong relationship with? Yes, even if it is just a bottle of good smelling liquid at the end of the day.

The reason I love these little potions so much is because they are transformative. Fragrance holds so much power: It has the ability to lift you up, remind you of loved ones, make you feel special, and take you to moments you want to cherish forever. I think they’re the closest thing we have to magic—you know, the kind of magic you might read about in fantasy novels. 

A recent cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open1 looked into what sensory cues were best able to prompt autobiographical memories. More specifically, they looked at verbal cues versus odor cues. The study participants all had major depressive disorder (MDD), which can often make memory recall challenging—especially personal memories. 

The team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that the individuals recalled more specific and vivid memories when they smelled familiar scents compared to verbal prompts. However, the memory recall was slower than that of verbal cues—meaning, even if the memories themselves were more robust, they weren’t as immediate.

This discovery aligns with our current understanding of how olfactory memories work. “You actually experience the sense of smell: It triggers our emotions and the memories before you're able to actually process the actual experience or memory," fragrance expert Mindy Yang told us previously. 

This isn’t just a “nice-to-know” discovery—there’s the potential to use this information when working with patients suffering with depressive episodes, the study authors note.

During the experiment, the researchers had participants smell vials of strong odors—scents like coffee, oranges, or even medicinal products. They then asked the participants to recall a memory. Importantly, they did not indicate whether the memory should be positive or otherwise. 

With the scent prompt, the participants were able to share more vivid and specific memories, rather than general associations. And interestingly, the memories shared were overwhelmingly positive. 

Not only does this indicate that this could be a tool to help pull individuals out of negative thought spirals, but it may help improve overall cognitive function. 

This is all the more reason to curate your fragrance wardrobe more mindfully. 

The good news is that this is actually quite easy and instinctive. We all gravitate towards notes and scents that are unique to us, our lives, backgrounds, and cultures—so follow your gut. If a perfume smells good to you, don’t overthink it! Enjoy it! 

Lots of beauty enthusiasts are doing this already. Recently there’s been a trend of moving away from having one “signature scents” towards wearing fragrance as a mood enhancer. This is largely driven by Gen-Z who, according to a recent consumer report, tends to own at least three fragrances per individual. 

The intersection of beauty and mental health is one that I will always be passionate about—and endlessly interested in. Beauty, at its best, can be used as a tool to inspire, delight, soothe, and center us. The wonderful thing is that the research is catching up to what many beauty enthusiasts know instinctively: These rituals aren’t just about outward appearance, but mean something much deeper.