Out of the woods: psychophysiological investigations on wood odors to estimate their suitability as ambient scents
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Out of the woods: psychophysiological investigations on wood odors to estimate their suitability as ambient scents Linda Schreiner1,2 · Brid Karacan2 · Sonja Blankenagel2 · Kai Packhaeuser3 · Jessica Freiherr2,4,5 · Helene M. Loos1,2 Received: 1 April 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Wood has been an important raw material for centuries, and humans encounter it in the form of furniture and building materials or in products of daily use. The odors emanating from such wood-based materials can add another facet to their functionality by influencing human well-being and mood. Moreover, wood odors can be used in odor-enhanced environments to foster relaxation and stress recovery. The current study was conducted to assess the subjective evaluation of, and physiological responses to, wood odors and individual wood odor constituents. The subjects smelled the odors of pine needles oil, cedar wood oil, α-pinene, and thymoquinone and evaluated the odor percept and their subjective feelings. Heart rate, finger temperature, and skin conductance were monitored throughout the experiment. The results showed that wood odors were distinct regarding their pleasantness, familiarity, and intensity. All odors enhanced the subjective feelings of happiness and content. Though no odor-specific physiological effects became evident, certain physiological measures correlated with self-reports of happy and relaxed feelings and the intensity ratings of the odors. The present study provides a basis for further studies on the use of wood odors as ambient scents and helps understanding the influence of natural odors on humans. * Helene M. Loos [email protected] 1
Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Henkestr. 9, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
2
Department of Sensory Analytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), Giggenhauser Str. 35, 85354 Freising, Germany
3
Fraunhofer IIS, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Am Wolfsmantel 33, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
4
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
5
Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Wood Science and Technology
Introduction Humans are continuously surrounded by stimuli triggering their senses of hearing, vision, touch, taste, and smell. Among these, humans tend to underestimate their sense of smell despite its many functions. Odor-active compounds are involved in cellular communication, carry information about our conspecifics, and are important quality parameters of food and consumer products (Doty 1986; Solov’yov et al. 2012; Stockhorst and Pietrowsky 2004). Furthermore, odors can influence human physiology, behavior, mood, and emotions (Alaoui-Ismaïli et al. 1997a; Bensafi et al. 2004; Herz 2009; Lehrner et al. 2000). Recent studies showed that being in nature has positive physiological and ps
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