Most offices have a base note of stale coffee, a hint¹ of photocopier² toner and a whiff of despair. What you smell can influence your mood, so it's a little bit crazy we don't pay more attention to the scent³ of our workplace.

许多办公室都会有一种过期咖啡的基调，一点复印机油墨味，还有一丝丝绝望的气息。你所吸入的气味会影响你的心情，所以若我们对办公室里的气味不多加留意，那么就会有点说不过去了。

In Japan, it's not unusual for workplaces to use scent to revive or relax workers, depending on the time of day. A study from Japanese fragrance⁴ company Takasago recently showed that typos were reduced by more than 50% when a lemon scent was diffused⁵ into the air.

在日本的在工作场合，利用香味来激励和舒缓员工的工作情绪早已见惯不怪，依照一天的不同时间而定。一份来自日本香料公司Takasago最新研究发现，当空气中充满了柠檬香味的时候，打字出错的概率降低了50%以上。

Meanwhile, in the shopping world, companies have been offering "scent branding" for retail⁶ premises⁷ for years in order to enhance the "overall sensory⁸ customer experience" - a.k.a make us all spend more money.

与此同时，在购物领域里，购物公司为了达到“总体感官顾客体验”的效果——也就是让我们多花钱，早已多年在零售店开展了 “香味品牌推广”的业务。

So which fragrances⁹ can improve your faculties¹⁰? And what scents¹¹ can scintillate¹² your brain? We've taken a look at some key smells that could up your office's productivity levels.

那么有哪些香味能提高你的工作能力？哪些香味又能激发大脑的能量？我们已经分别研究了一些主要的香味，有助让员工的工作能力提高到新的层次。

1. Rosemary

1. 迷迭香

Rosemary is credited with helping¹³ clear thinking, improving memory and energizing¹⁴ your mind.

迷迭香被誉为有助思维清晰，增强记忆和启迪心智的好帮手。

2. Jasmine

2. 茉莉花

In addition to helping relaxation¹⁵, Jasmine can ease tension and nerves.

除了放松，茉莉花香还能缓解紧张不安的情绪。

3. Citrus

3. 柑橘类

All citrus smells offer positive benefits. Grapefruit can help fight mental exhaustion¹⁶, lemon is uplifting, orange can ease stress and bergamot oil is even used to treat depression.

所有的柑橘类果香都益处多多。葡萄柚能舒缓精神疲惫，柠檬有提神的效果，橘子能够缓解压力，香柠檬油还能用来治疗抑郁症。

4. Lavender

4. 薰衣草

A very calming scent, lavender relieves stress and reduces anxiety.

薰衣草香是一种宁神静气的香味，有助缓解压力和减少焦虑情绪。

5. Peppermint¹⁷

5. 薄荷

Minty smells are energizing and refreshing¹⁸. Peppermint is said to aid concentration and stimulate¹⁹ the mind.

薄荷香气有激活身心和提神养气的作用。并且据说薄荷还能增强专注力和刺激思维。

Practicalities

实际运用

If you're going to go down the essential oils route, then be sure to read up on safety tips first. As most office managers would rather eat their own clipboard than even consider a naked flame in the office, you're probably going to need to look at alternatives to scented²⁰ candles or traditional oil burners.

如果你打算走精油路线，那就要熟读所有的安全指示。因为办公室经理们宁可吃掉自己的剪贴板也不想看到办公室出现一丝明火的痕迹，所以你就该看看能否找到作为替代的香气蜡烛或者传统的精油点燃器。

You can buy battery-operated oil diffusers, plug-in humidifiers or even USB-powered options. A bowl of water with a few drops of oil near a heat source can make a difference in air quality. A dish of scented potpourri²¹ poses no health or safety risks, and the same goes for scented sachets or bamboo fragrance sticks. If it's not going to offend anyone who shares your office space, you could spritz a scent every time you feel yourself dragging.

你可以购买一个电池供电的精油散发器，插电的加湿器或USB插头供电的设备。在一碗清水里滴进几滴精油，靠近发热源就可以营造出一种完全不同的空气质量。一小盘混合花香不会对健康或安全造成威胁，香包或香气竹条也一样。在不冒犯他人的前提下，在共享办公室里你还可以在有需要的时候随时喷洒香水。

Finally, if you're really on your own in wanting to inhale²² some mood-enhancing smells, a quick sniff²³ of a scented handkerchief might be enough to give your brain a boost.

最后一点，如果你本人真的急需吸取改善心情的气味，那么嗅一嗅带香气的手帕也足以增强大脑动力。