Aelita Zabulionė, a junior researcher at the Food Institute's Sensory Analysis Science Laboratory at Kaunas University of Technology, cautions against the excessive use of home fragrances. While these scents can positively influence emotions and physiological responses, such as blood pressure and heart rate, continuous exposure may not always yield beneficial effects. Zabulionė explains that our sense of smell is an evolutionary tool designed for survival, and chronic irritation of this sensory channel could become counterproductive.

The researcher emphasizes that even pleasant and acceptable fragrances, if experienced for too long or with excessive intensity, could overload the brain's sensory processing. This may result in psychological discomfort or even physical responses, as the brain interprets these signals as threats. It is crucial to balance the use of fragrances to avoid becoming desensitized or stressed as a result of continuous exposure to these scents.

Zabulionė points out the uniqueness of the human sense of smell, regarded as the only primary sensory system that bypasses the thalamus and projects signals directly to the emotional and memory centers in the brain. This direct pathway highlights the significant impact that fragrances can have on our behavior and emotional wellbeing, suggesting a careful approach is necessary when incorporating scents into our environments.