Evaluating the Psychobiologic Effects of Fragrances through Salivary Biomarkers

Salivary Manifestations Of Olfactory Effects

Olfactory stimulation by fragrances or odors may be viewed as a stressor that produces either a state of eustress (good stress) or distress (bad stress). The neurobiologic responses to both types of stress responses manifest along common autonomic, endocrine, and immune pathways. Because the central changes in the brain are difficult to monitor, researchers have commonly utilized peripherally accessible biofluids, such as blood and urine, as a source for identifying accompanying neuroendocrine perturbations. However, the intrusive nature of biofluid collection (e.g. blood) alters the plasma profile of related biomarkers and raises concerns about the confounding impact of measurement reactivity. An attractive alternative is human saliva, which largely contains the range of proteins, hormones, antibodies, and other analytes normally measured in blood tests (Yan, et al., 2009). Sampling saliva has multiple advantages in that it is non-invasive, readily accepted by the subject, easily stored and transported and stable for longer periods.