Fragrance Magazine

Driving—especially in city traffic or during a workday—can be stressful, difficult to concentrate, and fatigued. Car diffusers, which distribute delicate aroma components throughout the interior, offer a way to make the driving experience more pleasant and relaxing. Below, I'll explain how car fragrances can work, which aromas are suitable, and which health benefits are scientifically proven.

How scents affect the brain and mood

The sense of smell (olfactory system) is directly connected to the limbic system—the brain region that controls emotions and memory. When odor molecules are inhaled, olfactory receptors send signals to the brain, influencing neurotransmitters, hormones, and autonomic responses (e.g., breathing, heart rate, or blood pressure).
This connection allows scents to quickly modulate mood and physiological responses. Various studies show that aromatherapy can reduce stress, anxiety, and physiological stress responses.

Studies on scent interventions while driving or in simulated driving scenarios

Several scientific studies show that scents in the driving context have positive effects on concentration, mood and stress levels:

In a study using simulated driving scenarios, participants showed that pleasant and natural fragrance blends improved their driving performance and reduced distraction.
Another study found that scents such as grapefruit and lavender can reduce fatigue while driving – grapefruit had a quick effect, lavender a longer-lasting one.
Mint scent (“peppermint”) in the car has been associated with a reduction in aggressive driving behavior.
Essential oils such as sandalwood and lavender can regulate the autonomic nervous system and increase parasympathetic activity (rest mode).

These findings suggest that car scents are not only pleasant, but can also specifically influence driving performance, fatigue, and stress response.

Effective fragrances and their effects

Based on literature and experience, some fragrances are particularly suitable:

fragrance / aroma	Main effect / benefit
lavender	Calming, anxiety-relieving
Citrus notes (e.g. lemon, grapefruit)	Lifts the mood, reduces stress, has an invigorating effect
Mint / Peppermint	Increases attention, reduces aggression
Sandalwood & Chamomile	Promote relaxation and calm
Bergamot	Stress-reducing, relaxing

The effect depends heavily on concentration, blend, exposure time, and individual sensitivity. Not every fragrance has the same effect on everyone.

Health benefits beyond driving

Some of the health effects observed in studies:

Inhalation of lavender or grapefruit reduced stress levels and increased immunological markers (e.g., secretory IgA).
An eight-week aromatherapy intervention resulted in measurably reduced hair cortisol (a long-term stress marker) and lower subjective stress levels.
Regular aromatherapy improved mental and physical well-being – especially in older people.
Systematic reviews show that essential oils can reduce anxiety (state and trait anxiety), with a medium effect size.

These results suggest that regular, moderate use of aromatherapy (e.g., via diffusers or inhalation) can contribute to stress regulation – not only in the car, but in everyday life.