Effectiveness of Aroma on Work Efficiency: Lavender Aroma during Recesses Prevents Deterioration of Work Performance

Abstract

The present study investigated whether exposure to aromas during recess periods affects work performance. Subjects comprised 36 healthy male students (mean age, 24.2 +/- 2.2 years) who were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control group, not exposed to aroma during recesses; (2) jasmine group, exposed to jasmine aroma during recesses; and (3) lavender group, exposed to lavender aroma during recesses. All participants completed five work sessions performing a task requiring concentration on a computer monitor, with each session lasting 60 min. Recess periods of 30 min were provided between each session. To clarify the time at which work concentration was lowest, work performance for the control group was analyzed. Concentration was lowest in the afternoon period, where afternoon drowsiness is strongest. Comparison of the three groups for this time period indicated significantly higher concentration levels for the lavender group than for the control group. No such effect was noted for the jasmine group. Although lavender is a sedative-type aroma, use during recess periods after accumulation of fatigue seems to prevent deterioration of performance in subsequent work sessions.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. field-grown and propagated in vitro

“…In vitro tests have demonstrated that lavender oil has analgesic (Silva et al 2015) and anaesthetic effects (Ghelardini et al 1999). Lavender scent in the room prevents deterioration in work performance (Sakamoto et al 2005), may improve memory and the health state of people with Alzheimer's disease (Adsersen et al 2006). Lavender essential oil helps treat diseases of the digestive tract; it exhibits a diastolic effect for the ileum and smooth muscles (Lis-Balchin and Hart 1997).…”

(-)-Bornyl acetate induces autonomic relaxation and reduces arousal level after visual display terminal work without any influences of task performance in low-dose condition

“…Previous studies suggested (−)-bornyl acetate or pine essential oil including (−)-bornyl acetate had a sedative effect by breathing (1, 11). The olfactory stimulation with sedative-type essential oils or a compound could improve the performance (8,18,21,27). These information together with our results suggested that the dose of volatile compound is important for performance.…”

Essential Oil of Lavender Inhibited the Decreased Attention during a Long-Term Task in Humans

“…8) Conversely, another study found that the administration of an odor stimulus (peppermint) via the nasal cannula did not decrease the latency for the detecting a task at the end of the work, while the periodic delivery of a tactile stimulus did. 9) The conflicting results of these studies are mainly due to the lack of a standardized experimental protocol, different researchers using not only different kinds of odors but various research methods for exposing the subjects to the odors.…”