Scent of freshly cut grass can relieve stress.
Researchers have discovered that a chemical released by a mown lawn makes people feel happy and relaxed, and could prevent mental decline in old age.
They claim it works directly on the brain, in particular the emotional and memory parts known as the amygdala and the hippocampus.
Now they have developed a perfume, which “smells like a freshly-cut lawn”, that relieves stress and help boost memory, scientists claim.
The Australian experts produced the “eau de mow” after seven years of research.
Dr Nick Lavidis, a neuroscientist at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, came up with the idea for the perfume, named Serenascent, after going on a forest trek in the US twenty years ago.
“Three days in Yosemite National Park felt like a three-month holiday,” he said.
“I didn’t realise at the time that it was the actual combination of feel-good chemicals released by the pine trees, the lush vegetation and the cut grass that made me feel so relaxed.
“Years later my neighbour commented on the wonderful smell of cut grass after I had mowed the lawn and it all started to click into place,” he added.
Dr Lavidis said the aroma worked directly on the brain, in particular the emotional and memory parts known as the amygdala and the hippocampus.
He explained: “These two areas are responsible for the flight or fight response and the endocrine system, which controls the releasing of stress hormones like corticosteroids.
“The new spray appears to regulate these areas.
“There are two types of stress. The first is when you are about to perform something or you know you are going to have to do something well. That’s acute stress and can be a good form of stress.
“Bad stress is chronic stress and is associated with an increase in blood pressure, forgetfulness and a weakening of the immune system.”
Chronic stress has been shown to damage the hippocampus by reducing the number of connections between communicating cells, leading to memory loss. In old animals the damage is permanent.
Students working on the Australian project found that animals exposed to Serenascent – which combines three chemical released when green leaves are cut – escaped damage to the hippocampus.
The scent is said to have the “pleasant aroma of a freshly-cut lawn or a walk through a lush forest”.
It will go into production next month and sell for around £4 a bottle.
Dr Lavidis, who worked with pharmacologist Professor Rosemary Einstein, said: “It can be used as a room spray or a personal spray on bed linen, a handkerchief or clothing. Down the track we will look at incorporating the feel good chemicals into other products.”
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