Is scent the secret to waking up peacefully? The clever alarm clock that emits the smell of hot croissants, coffee and the sea

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Is scent the secret to waking up peacefully? The clever alarm clock that emits the smell of hot croissants, coffee and the sea

By Stylist Team

10 years ago

How many times did you hit snooze this morning? We average about three times when our alarm goes off. But maybe the sound of a buzzer is not the right way to wake up. Maybe what we need is smell.

A brilliant new alarm clock hopes to make the waking up process gentler and less intrusive by swapping sound for pleasant scents from hot croissants to coffee.

SensorWake designed by French entrepreneur Guillaume Rolland is designed to trigger our olfactory systems (our sense of smell) that can help to start our day in a more pleasant way. 

Studies have shown that scent can help change our moods, for example, orange reduces feelings of anxiety and peppermint is an energiser.

The new fragrance-emitting clock comes with a variety of aromatic cartridges to choose from, including the sea side, freshly cut grass and even the smell of money, called the ‘US Dollar’ scent. Other more generic flavours include fig, peach and rose.

Once you pop one of your desired cartridges into SensorWake and set your wake-up time, the scent will release into room for up to 10 minutes.

The clock will launch on Kickstarter this month and you can sign up for further updates on the release date at sensorwake.com.

In the meantime, why not add a few of the scents below to your morning routine, which are proven give you a boost at the start of the day: 

Jasmine - If you smell jasmine while sleeping, it's said to boost your mental performance the next day and make you feel less anxious when you wake up.

Citrus - The American National Sleep Foundation says the scent of lemons, oranges and grapefruits "can boost your body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that makes you feel happy. They also reduce levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine, so you’ll wake up but still feel calm".

Peppermint - In addition to its soothing and aromatic qualities, peppermint is said to make you more alert and focused on tasks that require sustained attention. Stock up on peppermint tea.

Rosemary - The herb has proven to boost performance, where a team of researchers at Northumbria University found that those with rosemary oil aroma in their bloodstream showed more speed and accuracy on tests. Top your hot breakfast or toast with a few sprigs. can help boost your performance, where 

Images: Thinkstock, sensorwake.com

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