Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults

This study looked at how lavender and rosemary essential oils affect thinking and mood. 144 volunteers were split into three groups: one exposed to lavender, one to rosemary, and one with no scent. They did memory and attention tasks and answered mood questionnaires. Lavender made memory tasks harder and slowed reaction times. Rosemary improved memory but slowed speed. After the tasks, the rosemary group felt more alert and content compared to the other groups. This shows that these scents can change how people think and feel.