Heaven scent in-car remedies

Did you know that natural aromas such as lavender, lemon, ginger and peppermint can be used to combat everything from travel sickness to road rage?

A new project is aiming to help drivers by introducing a combination of scents into the car which could help with negative emotions experienced on the roads.

Leasing Options has teamed up with Charles Spence, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, to establish and create air freshener scents that may help drivers manage road rage, nausea, tiredness and nervousness behind the wheel.

The conditions chosen followed a survey of over 1,000 drivers that found road rage/anger (50%), stress (48%), drowsiness/tiredness (44%), nervousness (43%) and travel sickness/nausea (13%) are common experiences when behind the wheel.

Five scented air fresheners were then created using natural ingredients based on these common complaints:

Pink grapefruit and cinnamon to combat drowsiness
As many as a third of all road traffic accidents are believed to be a result of drowsy drivers, according to research by Britain’s Transport Research Laboratory. Filling your car with a combination of pink grapefruit and cinnamon scents may help with drowsiness, as these smells have been proven to help extend your wakefulness [2].

Lavender, lemon and burnt rubber to calm road rage
Over half of the UK’s drivers admit to experiencing anger and impatience behind the wheel. Lavender, lemon and the smoky scent of burnt rubber have been proven to have a calming effect, so a simple combination of these could help to keep road rage at bay.

Ginger and peppermint to beat nausea
Although travel sickness is most commonly associated with passengers and not the driver, feelings of nausea can be severely detrimental to driving. Releasing a ginger and peppermint aroma into the car may help to settle the stomach.

Pine needles and fresh-cut grass to calm nerves
Almost half (47%) of 18 to 24-year-old drivers admitted to experiencing nervousness while on the road. Filling your car with the smell of pine needles and freshly cut grass could help to keep nerves at bay.

Bergamot and sweet marjoram to reduce stress
Nearly half (48%) of UK drivers admit that they have felt stressed when driving. The smell of citrus bergamot (bitter orange and lemon) with a hint of sweet marjoram could help to alleviate any stresses and allow drivers to relax.

“A growing body of scientifically credible research now shows releasing pleasant scents while driving could help us all to have a more positive experience on the open road,” explained Charles Spence, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford.

“I believe we undervalue the effect that smell can have on our state of mind. Having an air freshener that helps to combat the emotional or physical states you struggle with most while driving can only be a positive thing.”

Leasing Options has produced limited edition air fresheners that could mean more drivers can feel alert, calm or motion-sickness-free on the roads.