Many people look for ways to boost brain power — from exercising and eating healthy to learning new skills. But what if the size of your brain could actually be influenced by something as simple as wearing the right fragrance?
According to a new study published in the Brain Research Bulletin and reported by ScienceAlert, wearing rose-scented oil daily may increase gray matter in the brain — the area linked to memory, decision-making, and learning.
The Study: Perfume Meets Neuroscience
Researchers from Kyoto University and the University of Tsukuba in Japan conducted an experiment involving 50 women.
- 28 participants wore clothing infused with rose essential oil daily for a month.
- 22 participants served as the control group, applying plain water instead.
At the end of the study, MRI brain scans revealed that the rose-scent group showed increases in gray matter volume compared to the control group.
While a bigger brain doesn’t automatically mean higher intelligence, scientists believe the results may open doors to new therapies for neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Where the Brain Grew
Interestingly, the changes weren’t spread evenly across the brain:
- Amygdala (emotions) – Showed little change.
- Orbitofrontal cortex (smell processing) – Minimal change.
- Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) – Showed significant gray matter growth.
The PCC plays a major role in memory, associations, and odor-linked recall. Researchers suggest that because the rose scent was continuously present, the amygdala didn’t need to stay on high alert, shifting more activity to the PCC instead.
Why This Matters for Brain Health
The findings are exciting because the PCC is known to shrink in Alzheimer’s patients. Stimulating it with scents may help preserve its function.
Researchers note that the results could be used to develop affordable aromatherapy techniques — such as wearing scented clothing, perfume, or aftershave — to support brain health and plasticity.
“Continuous inhalation of rose essential oil may help prevent brain atrophy and reduce dementia risk,” the researchers explained.
What’s Next?
More studies with larger groups and different scents are needed before making strong conclusions. However, the research suggests that something as simple as wearing fragrance could one day play a role in supporting cognitive health and preventing memory decline.
Quick Takeaways
- Rose scent inhalation for one month boosted gray matter volume in MRI scans.
- The posterior cingulate cortex showed the biggest change, linked to memory and associations.
- Results may guide future aromatherapy-based dementia prevention strategies.
- Wearing perfume or cologne could be more than just style — it might be brain-boosting.