RESEARCH
Impact of Indoor Aroma on Students’ Mood and Learning Performance
Summary
This study explored how different indoor aromas—rosemary, lemon, and peppermint—might affect students’ mood, focus, and learning abilities. Seventy-six university students participated in a series of reading and memory tasks under four conditions: one with no scent (control), and three with essential oil scents diffused into the room. Researchers measured students’ emotional reactions and performance using mood surveys and tests, including reading comprehension and word memorization. They also tracked changes in how students felt about the smells before and after getting used to them, as well as how their aroma preference influenced their experience.
The results showed that students generally felt more relaxed, focused, and refreshed in rooms with pleasant scents—especially lemon and rosemary. While overall learning scores did not show major differences between groups, lemon aroma was rated most pleasant and led to slightly better memory and test performance. Students who liked a particular scent also tended to feel more comfortable and performed better during tasks. The study suggests that using pleasant, student-approved aromas in learning spaces may boost mood and support concentration.
