Integrating Neuroscience into Sensory Analysis of Cosmetics

Airton Rodrigues ( Av. Ipiranga, 104, 154- República, SP. CEP: 01046918 )

https://doi.org/10.37155/2972-3086-0402-4

Abstract

The study of olfactory perception and its neurophysiological implications has gained increasing significance, particularly in understanding how fragrances influence brain activity and human behavior. Volatile compounds, commonly found in perfumery and cosmetics, interact with the nervous system, modulating brain function through the electrical activity of the olfactory system. Electroencephalography (EEG), a well-established non-invasive technique, serves as a powerful tool for investigating subconscious processes that affect purchasing decisions and social behavior. This article explores the advanced application of EEG in olfactory studies, focusing on how different olfactory stimuli can modulate brain wave frequencies. Research indicates that EEG not only captures wave patterns associated with specific brain functions but also provides insights into the influence of fragrances on emotional and cognitive states. By surpassing traditional preference evaluations, EEG analysis explores dimensions of valence and arousal reflecting the intensity and pleasantness of odors, which have significant implications for the cosmetics industry. This article presents a novel approach to the importance of EEG in sensory studies of cosmetics proposing parameters to guide regulatory frameworks for cosmetic companies. It emphasizes how neurophysiological data can serve as objective measures to assess the impacts of olfactory stimuli on cognitive function. By integrating EEG methodologies into sensory studies, the article provides a robust foundation that facilitates a deeper understanding of the interactions between fragrances and the brain, ensuring both efficacy and safety for consumers. This integrated approach enhances not only product development but also ensures that new products meet consumer expectations for both functionality and emotional experience.

Keywords

Cosmetic fragrances; Sensory neuroscience; Olfactory responses; Sensory perception; Emotional assessment

Full Text

PDF

References

[1].Abbasi, N. I., Bezerianos, A., Hamano, J., Chaudhury, A., Thakor, N. V., & Dragomir, A. (2020). Evoked brain responses in odor stimuli evaluation - an EEG event-related potential study. In 2020 42nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC) (pp. 2861–2864). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC44109.2020.9175650
[2].Balconi, M., Venturella, I., Sebastiani, R., & Angioletti, L. (2021). Touching to feel: Brain activity during in-store consumer experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 653011. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.653011
[3].Cerf, M., & Garcia-Garcia, M. (Eds.). (2017). Consumer neuroscience. MIT Press.
[4].Cherninskii, A. A., Zima, I. G., Makarchouk, N. Y., Piskorskaya, N. G., & Kryzhanovskii, S. A. (2009). Modifications of EEG related to directed perception and analysis of olfactory information in humans. Neurophysiology, 41(1), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-009-9078-z
[5].DeGuzman, P., Jain, A., Tabert, M. H., & Parra, L. C. (2020). Olfaction modulates inter-subject correlation of neural responses. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 702. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00702
[6].Di Gruttola, F., Malizia, A. P., D’Arcangelo, S., Lattanzi, N., Ricciardi, E., & Orfei, M. D. (2021). The relation between consumers’ frontal alpha asymmetry, attitude, and investment decision. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 577978. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.577978
[7].Diwoux, A., Gabriel, D., Bardel, M. H., Ben Khalifa, Y., & Billot, P. É. (2024). Neurophysiological approaches to exploring emotional responses to cosmetics: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18, 1443001. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1443001
[8].Hou, H., Zhang, X., & Meng, Q. (2020). Olfactory EEG signal classification using a trapezoid difference-based electrode sequence hashing approach. International Journal of Neural Systems, 30(5), 2050011. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0129065720500112
[9].Karmarkar, U. R., & Plassmann, H. (2019). Consumer neuroscience: Past, present, and future. Organizational Research Methods, 22(1), 174–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428117730598
[10].Kim, M., Nishi, K., Sowndhararajan, K., & Kim, S. (2019). A time series analysis to investigate the effect of inhalation of aldehyde C10 on human EEG activity. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 25, 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2018.11.003
[11].Kroupi, E., Yazdani, A., Vesin, J. M., & Ebrahimi, T. (2014). EEG correlates of pleasant and unpleasant odor perception. ACM Transactions on Multimedia Computing, Communications, and Applications, 11(1s), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1145/2637287
[12].La Marca, J. P., Cruz, D., Fandino, J., Cacciaguerra, F. R., Fresco, J. J., & Guerra, A. T. (2018). Evaluation of artifact-corrected electroencephalographic (EEG) training: A pilot study. Journal of Neural Transmission, 125(7), 1087–1097. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-018-1877-1
[13].Lanata, A., Guidi, A., Greco, A., Valenza, G., Di Francesco, F., & Scilingo, E. P. (2016). Automatic recognition of pleasant content of odours through electroencephalographic activity analysis. In 2016 38th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2016.7591732
[14].Lee, M., Kim, C., Sarmandakh, B., Cho, G., & Yi, E. (2018). Electroencephalogram and psychological response to fragrance and color of Citrus unshiu scent-infused fabrics. Fibers and Polymers, 19(7), 1548–1555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-018-8228-6
[15].Ninenko, I., Kleeva, D. F., Bukreev, N., & Lebedev, M. A. (2023). An experimental paradigm for studying EEG correlates of olfactory discrimination. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17, 1117801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1117801
[16].Park, K. H., Kim, H. J., Oh, B., Seo, M., Lee, E., & Ha, J. (2019). Evaluation of human electroencephalogram change for sensory effects of fragrance. Skin Research and Technology, 25(4), 526–531. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12682
[17].Pei, G., & Li, T. (2021). A literature review of EEG-based affective computing in marketing. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 602843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.602843
[18].Smith, S. W. (2003). Digital signal processing: A practical guide for engineers and scientists. Newnes.
[19].Son, H. J., Park, S. Y., Lee, C. W., & Park, S. A. (2024). Gender differences in psychophysiological responses to herbal plant olfactory stimuli: An electroencephalogram study. HortScience, 59(12), 1569–1576. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18055-24
[20].Sowndhararajan, K., & Kim, S. (2016). Influence of fragrances on human psychophysiological activity: With special reference to human electroencephalographic response. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 84(4), 724–751. https://doi.org/10.3390/scipharm84040724
[21].Yuan, G., & Liu, G. (2022). Mate preference and brain oscillations: Initial romantic attraction is associated with decreases in alpha- and lower beta-band power. Human Brain Mapping, 43(2), 721–732. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.25681

Copyright © 2025 Airton Rodrigues Creative Commons License Publishing time:2025-08-13
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License