Detecting concentration differences in aromatic oils.
200 University of Wolverhampton undergraduates rank-ordered samples of aromatic oils commonly used in complementary medicine in terms of their concentration in the air above an oil-soaked cotton ball. Each participant was assigned the task of discriminating between 5 microl, 10 microl, and 20 microl of oil absorbed onto cotton balls. 25 participants assessed each oil, and 8 oils were used. Cardamom, Rosemary, and Ylang Ylang were highly discriminable; however, discrimination of different concentrations of Chamomile, Cyprus, Geranium, Jasmine, and Lavender did not significantly differ from chance. These data provide useful indices for choosing aromatic oils for research purposes.
Morris
Neil
N
University of Wolverhampton, Division of Psychology, UK. NeilMorris1@aol.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019341:Aromatherapy; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell
D009822:Oils, Volatile