Vanilla Scented Perfumes
Vanilla perfume first gained attention in the 1990s when perfume makers started using vanilla more often in their different fragrances. Now, Vanilla Scented Perfumes have become widely used. Vanilla has become dominant in its use as an ingredient in various perfumes, and there have even been a few pure vanilla perfumes introduced. Why has this seemingly plain ingredient become so popular? There have been many attempts to explain the popularity of vanilla perfumes. Some people say the smell of vanilla is closely associated with some of their nicest childhood memories. Others believe the popularity of vanilla is due to the softer nature of its scent. This makes it a wonderful alternative to some of the stronger perfumes on the market.
In truth, both are correct. Both factors have definitely contributed to the overwhelming success of vanilla scented perfumes. For years, scientists have studied the connection between memory and the olfactory sense. Also, many poets and writers have made use of the power that scents have to call forth distinct memories. One such example is in the novel Remembrance of Things Past by Proust. This famous novel contains one of the best-known cases of scent triggering memory. In it, the simple smell of a cake gives way to many pages filled with childhood memories.
Recently, an experiment showed that some people have a more difficult time expressing in words what thoughts or memories a particular scent evoked. Those involved in the experiment were given an object, the name of an object, and the odor of an object. Then the subjects were asked to write down anything that came to mind for each type of stimulus. The responses were markedly different, but in all cases the responses to the olfactory stimulus were all associated with memories. Not all memories of childhood are good ones, but the ones that are usually associated with vanilla scented perfumes tend to be mostly positive. Vanilla smells tend to remind us of sweet treats, our parents taking us to get ice cream, or maybe of being in the kitchen while mom baked cookies.
There are other benefits associated with vanilla scented perfumes as well. Medical experiments have shown that vanilla fragrances can actually aid in reducing stress and anxiety. For example, one study showed that cancer patients reported a huge reduction in stress when heliotropin was administered during their MRI procedure, a diagnostic process known to be highly stressful. Heliotropin has a vanilla fragrance. Another study, done at Tubingen University, revealed that vanilla scents can actually make you feel calmer by reducing the startle reflex. This was shown to be effective in both humans and animals.
There are many scents. Some are pure vanilla while others merely include vanilla along with other scents. It is recommended to explore the different fragrances and find the one that best suits you, and once you do the great scent of vanilla will bring you olfactory pleasure for a long time to come.
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