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5 natural scents can stop you feeling tired and groggy in the morning, says doctor
If you feel tired and groggy in the morning despite getting enough sleep, smelling a certain aroma could be the answer.
A doctor has revealed that scent has wonderful energizing properties, providing that much-needed boost when you wake up.
5 smells that can boost your morning
In partnership with Reviva Coffee, Dr. Hana Patel, GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, explains that many studies demonstrate the benefits of scent on psychological health, including lifting-mood, easing stress, inducing relaxation and helping with sleep.
“For instance, lemongrass scents have been used in numerous anxiety studies, which have concluded that this aroma has some stress relieving effects,” she said. “Peppermint also has well-known uses as a therapeutic scent.”
The pair have revealed five different smells that can wake you up in the morning, reduce stress and help you feel ready for the day.
1. Coffee beans
Many people start their day with a cup of coffee, using the caffeine to wake them up and boost their energy levels. However, you may not have to drink it to reap the benefits. One 2019 study asked participants to smell coffee for five minutes and found that the fragrance increased alertness, attention and memory.
2. Peppermint
Another aroma that will boost your morning is peppermint, which has loads of benefits, including easing congestion, improving mental function, reducing stress, easing digestive problems and reducing pain, the NCCIH reveals. This could be through smelling peppermint tea, peppermint leaf or a few drops of peppermint oil.
3. Chocolate
It’s not the best idea to eat chocolate for breakfast, but enjoying its scent can have many benefits. Chocolate contains a compound called phenylethylamine which triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, improving your mood, Patel reveals. It can also lower stress and calm you down by encouraging your brain to produce serotonin, the happy hormone.
4. Lemongrass
Smelling lemongrass can give you that much-needed boost in the morning with its calming effects, known to reduce stress and anxiety. The fresh and zesty plant smells similar to lemons, an energizing scent that can help to banish fatigue. It’s also full of antioxidants, which help protect your cells against damage and keep you healthy.
5. Orange
Finally, if you have an orange in your fruit bowl, that could be the key to fuelling your morning. Citrus scents increase your serotonin levels while also reducing norepinephrine, the stress hormone. One study released an orange odor in a dentist’s waiting room and found it had a relaxing effect, resulting in a lower level of anxiety, a more positive mood, and increased calmness.
To help you feel more awake in the morning, it’s also a great idea to stop setting multiple alarms and avoid certain foods for breakfast.
Dr. Hana Patel is an experienced general practitioner in family medicine in the Southeast London area. She also practises as a mental health and life coach, and gained her medical degree from The University of London in 2005.
