> Individuals assigned to the olfactory enrichment group were provided with an odorant diffuser (Diffuser World) and 7 essential oil odorants (rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender; from The Essential Oil Company, Portland, OR) in identical glass vials that each fit into the diffuser.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1200...

Cool I can go to bed with nosegays poking from my nostrils.

Perhaps this is why people smelt posies during the plague because it increased their IQ, or is there some sort of antipathogenic effect in the odour?

it's because the graveyards and charnel houses were overflowing with rotting bodies, and there were people were walking around with weeping, infected sores (buboes) -- it really stank!

They also believed miasma (bad smells) spread disease. They weren't a million miles away from the idea of airborne pathogens, but they were obviously incorrect about sweet smells having protective properties.

That said, I've wondered if the flowers thing selected in favour of people with hayfever - if you're producing more mucus and expelling it, that might lower your exposure. I've never seen a study on it, though.

> that might lower your exposure. I've never seen a study on it, though.

You wont, the scientific community perfectly represent the Thomas Pynchon saying "'If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers"

Besides (UK) Govt water quality legislation creates a massive health and cancer industry!

Makes a mockery of the so called intelligence of the law!

Urgh no thanks.

But I would be curious if a dog at that age is better or worse for the immune system.