Ambient Scent Effects on Productivity and Mood in Co-Working Spaces: A Quantitative Experimental Study of Olfactory Work Environments

Javeiria Fatima; Kifayat Ullah Iftikhar

doi:10.5281/zenodo.21726175

Authors

Javeiria Fatima University of Swabi: Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6839-1683
Kifayat Ullah Iftikhar Lasbela University of Agriculture Water and Marine Science: Uthal, Balochistan, PK https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9649-6554

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21726175

Keywords:

ambient scent, co-working spaces, productivity, mood, environmental psychology, olfactory

Abstract

This study examines how ambient scent in co-working spaces influences productivity, attention, and mood through a quantitative experimental investigation of users exposed to different olfactory conditions. One hundred co-working space participants were randomly assigned to scented conditions (lavender, peppermint, citrus) or an unscented control condition and observed over a five-day work period. Grounded in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) model (Mehrabian & Russell, 1974) and Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, 1995), the research explores the cognitive and affective mechanisms through which environmental scent shapes workplace performance outcomes. Findings indicate that scent type significantly affects both psychological states and task performance. Peppermint scent produced the strongest productivity effects, increasing self-reported productivity by 22% (M = 3.92 vs. 3.22, t = 3.86, p < 0.001) and improving sustained attention by 18%. Lavender scent was associated with a 28% reduction in perceived stress but also a 14% decrease in alertness, suggesting a trade-off between relaxation and cognitive activation. Citrus scent significantly improved mood (M = 4.08) but did not yield measurable productivity gains. Results further demonstrate the importance of scent–task congruence: peppermint was most effective for analytical tasks, whereas citrus showed stronger alignment with creative tasks. Multiple regression analysis reveals that scent–task fit (β = 0.32), individual scent sensitivity (β = 0.24), and baseline mood (β = 0.22) collectively explain 38% of variance in productivity outcomes. Notably, 34% of participants were unaware of the scent manipulation, indicating that olfactory effects can operate below conscious awareness. The study contributes to environmental psychology and organizational behavior by demonstrating that ambient scent is a measurable determinant of workplace cognition and affect. It also offers practical implications for workspace design, co-working environment optimization, and sensory-based productivity interventions.

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