Trust Issues? Believe it or Not, Lavender Can Help!

In one of the most unusual studies we have seen lately, aromatherapy with lavender has been shown to improve people’s trust in each other. . . .

In this study, with intriguing implications for relationships, ninety people played what is known as The Trust Game. Different groups played it in three different rooms: one was lavender scented, one was peppermint scented and one was unscented. None of the players were aware that the rooms would be scented or that the decisions they were making in the game were actually testing their trust in each other, so they were not paying attention to either of the factors being tested.

Trust scores were significantly higher in the lavender group than in the peppermint group or the placebo group.

This is the first study ever to show that exposure to an aroma can have an affect on interpersonal trust.

Front Psychol 2015;5:1486

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