Rosemary Scent May Help You Remember!

rosemary scent and memory

Rosemary scent can help improve memory!

Rosemary Scent Can Also Help You to Remember to Complete Tasks

The scent of rosemary essential oil may improve the ability of people over 65 to remember events and to remember to complete tasks at particular times in the future, according to a study by post-graduate student Lauren Bussey, Lucy Moss and Dr Mark Moss of Northumbria University.

Lauren Bussey said: “In this study we focused on prospective memory. This involves the ability to remember events that will occur in the future and to remember to complete tasks at particular times. It’s critical for everyday functioning. For example: when someone needs to remember to post a letter or to take medication at a particular time.”

Rosemary and lavender essential oil were diffused in a testing room by placing four drops on an aroma stream fan diffuser and switching this on five minutes before the participants entered the room. A total of 150 people aged over 65 took part in the study and were randomly allocated to either the rosemary/lavender-scented room or another room with no scent.

Once in the room they undertook tests designed to assess their prospective memory functions. These included remembering to pass on a message at a given time during the procedure, and switching tasks when a specific event occurred. These tasks represent the two components of prospective memory: time-based and event-based.

Participants also completed mood assessment before and after undertaking tests in the scented or non-scented rooms.

The rosemary aroma significantly enhanced prospective memory compared to the room with no aroma. In terms of mood, rosemary significantly increased alertness and lavender significantly increased calmness and contentedness compared to the no aroma control condition

Lauren Bussey said: “These findings support previous research indicating that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive functioning in healthy adults.”

Want an event that you will remember for a long time? Join us for our Caregiver Smile Cruise next January 2018!