A new study had said that the scents of peppermint or cinnamon could make the drivers of motor vehicles more alert and refreshed.
Driving for long stretches of time makes the drivers of the vehicle angry, fatigued and physically exhausted. The study had monitored drivers who participated in the study under the conditions of three different types of odors of peppermint, cinnamon and non-odor control. The odors were added to the air inside the vehicle with the help of an oxygen concentrator and were pumped for 30 seconds after every fifteen minutes at a very low flow, of about 1.3l per minute.Both the cinnamon and peppermint smell increases the ratings of alertness in comparison to the control situation. Researchers of the study think that periodic administration of these odors will increase the alertness of the drivers and help them stay energized for long drives. While peppermint remained the more effective one, as it will decrease fatigue and frustration while driving, more than cinnamon, both of them seem to be equally effective in decreasing feelings of frustration and boredom and increasing alertness.
The study was presented at the Association for Chemical Reception Sciences Conference.
