The scent of wood and visual wood elements reduce stress and significantly enhance recovery and mood indoors. The wellbeing effects of virtual wooden surfaces are very similar to those of genuine ones.
A study carried out by the University of Helsinki and Natural Resources Institute Finland investigated how the scent of wood and walls that mimic wood affect people's recovery and mood indoors. The focus was on the effects of a scent representing Scots pine, virtual wooden walls and their combination.
The results indicate that the best effect is achieved when a wood scent and visual wood elements are used simultaneously. This combination made people feel markedly more relaxed and restored than in an ordinary indoor space, or when only one of the stimuli was used.
"Our study was the first to distinguish between the effects of a wood scent and the visual properties of wood, and also to examine their combined effect. Virtual wall surfaces that mimic wood can produce very similar wellbeing effects to genuine wooden surfaces. This opens up new opportunities for using nature-based design in many indoor spaces," says Associate Professor of Wood Material Science Tuula Jyske from the University of Helsinki.
Individual differences in responses to wood scent and visual stimuli
The study involved 50 research subjects who completed a three-stage survey on each visit to a virtual laboratory. The experiment used photos taken of wooden panels, combined into a single 360° image, and the intensity of the wood scent matched the scent perceivable in modern timber-framed buildings. The subjects' cognitive stress was increased by a task requiring concentration.
While the age or gender of the subjects did not affect any key results, the effects of the stimuli varied between individuals.
"We were surprised by how great the differences were between people. Not everyone reacted the same way, and some of the participants didn't even consciously notice the scent, even though it was there based on the measurements. Its effects on perceived recovery were nevertheless observed," Jyske says.
The study is timely, as more and more people spend a lot of time indoors, increasing the need for design that supports wellbeing. The results can be applied especially to work, study and therapeutic settings where virtual wooden surfaces and a carefully controlled wood scent can support recovery in, for example, breakrooms and workspaces. The study provides measured data on bringing natural elements indoors, including virtually.
"Next, we can perhaps explore the long-term effects of a wood scent and visual elements together in various real-world indoor environments. It's also important to better understand individual differences and the amount of stimuli that optimally support recovery," Jyske says.
Original article
Tuula Jyske, Valtteri Kutvonen, Janne Kaseva, Mika Kurkilahti, Heidi Hellén, Toni Tykkä, Emilia Rosenborg, Madli George, Saša Tkalčan, Jutta Kauppi,
, Journal of Environmental Psychology.
