Here’s an interesting study which involved +40 adults and looked at their reactions to smelling fragrances. The main takeaway is that fragrance inhalation of essential oils, such as pepper oil, estragon oil, fennel oil or grapefruit oil, resulted in 1.5- to 2.5-fold increase in relative sympathetic activity. In contrast, fragrance inhalation of rose oil or patchouli oil caused a 40% decrease in relative sympathetic activity (P<0.01, each). If you’re going to do an athletic task or want to unwind, these essential oils could help you out.
Do you respond to any other essential oils or smells?
Here’s the article: Effects of fragrance inhalation on sympathetic activity in normal adults - PubMed