Do Fragrances and Colors Affect our Moods?

[Ladyzekke]

I hope this hasn't been done before (doh I miss a lot sometimes here).

Anyway, we've all heard of "Aromatherapy" before right? I tend to agree that certain fragrances affect our moods (albeit not in the hyped up way advertisors of fragrances like to make it sound like) in a subtle way. I mean, if I walk into a room that smells like trash, I'm not most likely going to be in a pleasant mood LOL. But on the other hand if I walk into a room that smells like Yankee Candles, different story (hehe, I just opened up a peach one, absolutely lovely, I love Yankee Candles!). Of course, again, it is a subtle thing, if I'm in a room with an insulting jerk, the surrounding fragrance isn't going to mellow my reaction. But it DOES make a difference. I remember last year the news was mentioning how some Subway stations were thinking about using Aromatherapy on their trains to accommodate riders, to make them feel calmer, more relaxed, and giving an effect of "this is a nice place, don't stab anyone here LOL." I'm all for that idea myself, I don't think it will hinder crime much, but it will make said ride much more pleasant no doubt [img]smile.gif[/img]

As for colors, some say that colors also affect people moods. This I'm a bit sketchy on, but in some ways I can see where they get that notion from. When I walk into a room I instantly get a "feeling". If I were to walk into a room with black painted walls, I'd probably feel suppressed. As for other colored rooms, each give me an individual feeling, but not really one I can express in words really, as it is so subtle.

So what are yall's take on it? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe]

As far as scientific studys go I am aware of some that would support this theory. I don't remember the specifics of it, but I know that it was found that by the different amounts of lighting in an office, the employees would work harder, or not as hard, on the basis, of the amount of light that they had. I am sure colors and probably fragrances are the same way.

[johnny]

Fragrances sure can change your mood very quick, especially with 4 guys in a car with closed windows.

[antryg]

Color does make a big impact on mood. Often designers choose colors based on what mood they are trying to evoke. Companies use mood testing based on color to design everything to restaurant eating areas to bathrooms. It is also used in some hospitals to calm manic oroverly aggressive patients.
I'll never forget the first time I visited a patient who was manic depressive and had gone off his medication. I walked into his room and everything was pepto-bismal pink. I mean everything. The floor, the ceiling, the blinds,
the sheets, his pajamas, everything. After about 5 minutes you began to feel that all the energy was being sucked out of your body. You can't maintain the energy to be manic or angry in that kind of enviroment. This way they don't have to restrain the patients. It's very weird though.

[Ladyzekke]

Interesting replies thanks. [img]smile.gif[/img] The question I have now though, is WHY do colors and/or fragrances affect our moods? I suppose the fragrance part might be a physical nasal thing, but what about color? There is definitely something to it, but what? Anyone ever heard of Feng Shui (sp?)? It kind of explains why, but I'm not sure if I'm buyin it.

[ 11-07-2002, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

[Sir Goulum]

Originally posted by ladyzekke: Interesting replies. The question I have though, is WHY do colors and/or fragrances affect our moods? I suppose the fragrance part might be a physical nasal thing, but what about color? There is definitely something to it, but what? Anyone ever heard of Feng Shui (sp?)? It kind of explains why, but I'm not sure if I'm buyin it.

I'm not sure how they affect us. I guess it sorta depends on whether you like the color/scent or not.

[Ladyzekke]

Sir Goulum, it is cracking me up seeing your Elder Orbs Avatar at your age!! Funny stuff! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Animal]

Colours affect moods of consumers in different ways. Red makes people aggresive, while various shades of green tend to make people hungry. To get off topic a tad, it's interesting to note that the standard dollar sign ($) used to have to lines through it, but that was found to make people angry and not want to buy.

[Sir Goulum]

Originally posted by ladyzekke: Sir Goulum, it is cracking me up seeing your Elder Orbs Avatar at your age!! Funny stuff! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'm older than I seem! *grabs a cane* [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[Ladyzekke]

Originally posted by Animal: Colours affect moods of consumers in different ways. Red makes people aggresive, while various shades of green tend to make people hungry. To get off topic a tad, it's interesting to note that the standard dollar sign ($) used to have to lines through it, but that was found to make people angry and not want to buy.

Weird Animal, never heard that one before about the dollar sign, never noticed either! I have heard though that Red and Yellow together make people hungry, and if you think about it, lots of restaurants use those colors (McDonalds, Subway...). I guess I do think of food if I see those colors, but I'm not sure it is a color thing or just growing up with the Red and Yellow McDonalds sign all over creation, including TV [img]tongue.gif[/img]