International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2026)
Researchers at the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery investigated whether the natural scents released by plants in botanic garden glasshouses could influence human wellbeing. In a pilot study at the Oxford Botanic Garden, 43 participants spent 30 minutes sitting in five different glasshouses, each with distinct plant “scentscapes”, and in a plant-free room. The team measured anxiety levels, heart rate and heart-rate variability before and after each session, while also analysing the airborne plant compounds present in each environment.
The results suggest that time spent in plant-rich glasshouses is associated with measurable wellbeing benefits. Participants showed significant reductions in anxiety after sitting in the glasshouses compared with the plant-free room, with some environments producing stronger effects than others. The glasshouses contained diverse plant-emitted compounds previously linked to relaxation and mood improvements, highlighting the potential health value of aromatic plants in urban green spaces. The findings suggest that scent, alongside the visual presence of vegetation, may be an important but often overlooked element of nature’s benefits for human health.
