Spending time in natural environments offers significant benefits to our health and well-being. Research indicates that exposure to nature can positively impact our emotions, thoughts, stress levels, and physical health. Even brief interactions with natural settings, such as having a window view of nature from a hospital room, have accelerated patient recovery. Despite these well-documented benefits, much of the existing research has predominantly focused on visual experiences of nature, overlooking the profound influence of scents and odours.

Gregory Bratman, an assistant professor at the University of Washington, along with a diverse group of international researchers, aims to address this gap. They assert that our sense of smell, or olfaction, is crucial in how natural environments affect us. Unlike visual stimuli, which have been extensively studied, the olfactory system is a complex chemical detection mechanism. It comprises numerous olfactory receptors capable of detecting an extensive range of scents emitted by the natural world.

In their recent publication in Science Advances, Bratman and his colleagues propose expanding research into how these natural scents impact human health and well-being. This interdisciplinary team includes experts from olfaction, psychology, ecology, public health, and atmospheric science-based in several countries worldwide. Their collective goal is to deepen our understanding of how the chemical compounds released by plants, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), influence our physiological and psychological responses.

Plants release VOCs into the atmosphere for various purposes, such as deterring herbivores or attracting pollinators. These compounds can linger in the air for extended periods and interact with our olfactory receptors. While some scents may affect us subconsciously, triggering subtle physiological responses, others may evoke conscious perceptions and memories. For instance, certain scents are universally pleasant, like the fragrance of flowers, while others hold culturally specific meanings or personal associations.

The researchers advocate for a comprehensive investigation into when and how these biochemical processes, often unnoticed by our conscious minds, affect us. Understanding these dynamics could enhance our appreciation of nature’s benefits and inform better land use practices, ecosystem preservation efforts, and urban planning strategies. By studying how human activities, such as pollution and habitat destruction, alter the natural olfactory landscape, they hope to mitigate negative impacts and preserve the health-promoting benefits of natural scents.

Moreover, their work highlights the intersection of scientific inquiry with broader societal implications. By integrating insights from indigenous knowledge, psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience, among other disciplines, they aim to build a holistic understanding of our relationship with nature through the sense of smell. This approach acknowledges the cultural significance of smells and underscores the importance of preserving these sensory experiences for future generations.

Bratman and his colleagues call for a paradigm shift in how we perceive and study nature’s impacts on human well-being. Expanding our research focus to include the olfactory dimension can deepen our understanding of the intimate links between nature’s scents and our health. This knowledge enriches our scientific understanding and guides us towards more sustainable practices that respect and harness the benefits of the natural world.

More information: Gregory Bratman et al, Nature and human well-being: The olfactory pathway, Science Advances. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3028

Journal information: Science Advances Provided by University of Washington