OLFACTORY REMEDIATION - CURRENT EVIDENCE AND POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

A number of recent psychological investigations has suggested a signif icant role for olfactory stimulation in the alteration of cognition, m ood and social behaviour. These orthodox investigations have a common, if uneasy, relationship with the holistic practice of so-called aroma therapy. This paper reviews the therapeutic effects of odour on health -related behaviour. It distinguishes two types of research activity, o ne which is quantitative and science- and medicine-based, the other wh ich is qualitative and anecdote- and experience-based. Both of these e ndeavours are critically assessed and suggestions are made for improve ment in methodology and experimental design. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevi er Science Ltd