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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of a biomarker, salivary amylase, as an indicator of the acute psychological sedative effects of four different types of fragrances. Twenty healthy female subjects in their late 30s were enrolled (36.3 ± 2.5 yr, mean ± SD). In order to induct the subjects a pre-stress, a cold pressor test was conducted as an uncomfortable distress task, prior to the inhalation of test samples. The salivary amylase activity was analyzed before, during and after the inhalation of the fragrance, using a hand-held salivary amylase activity monitor previously fabricated by the authors. Our results indicated that (i) fragrances containing no chemical materials which could directly activate the central nervous system, significantly induced a sedative effect in women, as assessed by both analysis of the biomarker and subjective evaluation; (ii) salivary amylase activity can be an excellent indicator for the evaluation of an acute, psychological sedative effect; and (iii) feel relaxed and refreshed might be a appropriate question to precisely describe the sedative state, rather than the questions fun, stressed or uplifted.