Colors and scents have a direct influence on our mood and thus on our well-being. This begins in childhood and continues throughout our lives. The colorful world of berries is currently very popular. They can be found in almost every area: whether fashion, cosmetics, or body care – there are a multitude of products that are extremely popular with both girls and women. Why is this? Bübchen has followed this trend and, in conversation with fragrance expert Frank Rittler, discovered that not only the bright colors, but also the scent of berries has a major influence on our mood.
Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries – they not only taste delicious and sweeten our summers, but they are also currently a major inspiration for fashion and cosmetics. This can be seen, for example, in current makeup trends: In every drugstore, in women's and girls' magazines, or on influencer channels, we encounter styling ideas with lipsticks or eyeshadow in various berry colors. It's similar in fashion, where there's even talk of a big new trend color: pink peacock. Whether it's airy summer dresses or accessories in bold berry colors – the fashion world is encouraging colorful styling and extravagant combinations. Because berry colors go with almost every outfit: whether in combination with classic black or white – or with other berry colors, anything goes that pleases and puts you in a good mood. Bübchen has taken up the berry trend and developed a new body care range for girls, designed to accompany them on their trend-conscious journey to adulthood – and which also cares for the skin and hair of women, whether moms or big sisters.
A fragrance expert confirms: a fruity scent combined with magenta and red puts you in a good mood. Not only the colors, but also the berry scent has a positive influence on our mood. Frank Rittler, master perfumer at KEVA Fine Perfume Creation in Amsterdam, explains in an interview with Bübchen what influence scents have on our well-being and why certain smells shape us throughout our lives.
THE INTERVIEW
Mr. Rittler, what influence do scents have on our well-being?
Humans are influenced by scents from childhood onwards and remember them for a lifetime. This is not the case with other sensory stimuli: what we see, hear, and feel – all of this information is only stored by our brain if it seems interesting or important. Otherwise, we forget it again. The sense of smell, on the other hand, is anchored in the limbic system. There, olfactory impressions are merged with emotions and feelings and stored, whether we want it or not. This is why we can associate a smell with a person or an event even decades later. When we smell scents that we associate with a pleasant experience, we feel good.
Why do people perceive scents so differently? Some prefer fruity notes, others sweet or bitter ones?
Because we are "scent neutral" as newborns, our scent recording and learning only begins after birth. What we perceive in the first months of life shapes our scent preferences. The first smell we perceive is usually vanilla, as it is present in breast milk. Then come scents such as eating habits, the regional environment, ethnic origin, and even cultural and religious influences.
Does the scent of berries have a special effect on our mood? Do berry scents perhaps even make us happy or put many people in a cheerful and positive mood?
We've discovered that many people prefer floral-fruity fragrances because they remind them of summer, holidays, and warmth. When combined with certain colors, berry scents are particularly happy: The color red represents energy, vitality, joy, creativity, motivation, optimism, and emotion. Magenta is associated with well-being, friendliness, self-respect, and tolerance. A fruity fragrance combined with the colors magenta and red therefore creates joy and a good mood. The Bübchen "Happy Berry" range includes a shower gel and a shampoo with a berry scent, which promise gentle care and happiness.
Do we perceive scents differently or more intensely when we smell them while showering? Why is this?
Yes, we perceive a scent much more strongly and intensely in the shower than, for example, when washing our hands. We usually shower in a relatively small, enclosed space. The temperature of the warm water and the large surface area of the foam distribute the scent molecules much more effectively throughout the room; this is also referred to as the ambient radiation of a scent.
Über den Experten
Frank Rittler
Frank Rittler, fragrance expert, also known as "The Nose." Born in 1969 in Höxter/Weserbergland, Germany. After graduating from high school, Rittler began an apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory technician at Symrise in 1985. His subsequent training as a perfumer immersed him in the world of fragrances. After 15 years at Symrise and six years in Asia and South America, he became one of six perfumers at the Henkel Fragrance Center in Krefeld. In 2007, he founded MagnifiScent to meet specific customer requests. Today, Frank Rittler, as a master perfumer at KEVA, heads the fine perfume creation division in Amsterdam.
