Washington: Doctors have found smokers likely to return to smoking will be reduced if they carry small perfume packs.
"Even with nicotine replacement, relapse is common," said the study's lead author, Michael Sayette, of the University of Pittsburgh. "New interventions are urgently needed to help the millions who wish to quit but are unable."
As for why the pleasant odors aided in reducing the cravings for cigarettes, Sayette said the aroma may have helped distract smokers from their thoughts of cravings to memories linked to the scents.
Cravings and urges are inevitable part of quitting. Even those who have been smoke-free for some time can experience certain triggers that may cause cravings for cigarettes to come back.
Experts said cravings usually last five to 10 minutes, and learning how to manage it takes practice.
This discovery prompted the scientific team to think in a quick and direct way to influence the brain to curb the urge to smoke.
The study included 232 smokers, who were not trying to quit and were not using any nicotine replacement, such as gum or vaping.
In a series of experiments, the researchers found that the smokers' cigarette cravings declined after they smelled pleasant aromas, such as chocolate, apple, peppermint, lemon or vanilla.
Pleasant aromas may work by distracting smokers from thoughts of their nicotine craving to memories linked with the aromas, Sayette said. (QNA)
