Can focused mindfulness training increase olfactory perception? A novel method and approach for quantifying olfactory perception

The aim of the study was to examine whether mindfulness-based training will increase the perception of odors and odor identification ability using a novel approach to quantifying olfactory perception. Eighteen participants were assigned to an experiment group and completed 5 min of focused mindfulness-based training, twice-per day for 2 days, while 18 control participants listened to a scientific podcast. The results revealed no significant differences between the experiment and control groups in terms of the number of odors counted over 2 days or odor identification ability at the end of the study. However, compared to controls, participants in the experiment group indicated via self-report that they noticed odors more often after mindfulness training. This finding was only true for a subset of participants and given this is the first study of its kind; replication is required to determine whether mindfulness-based training, possibly over a longer period of time, may increase olfactory perception. Practical Applications: Given odorant perceptions can change after repeated exposure and recalling the number of odorants experienced in a day is difficult, using a finger counter is a novel and effective methodological approach to track and assess daily odorant exposure in experiment and consumer research.