What happens if you release the odor of lavender into a restaurant？ In case of【M1】__

a small shop in France, at least, it led to customers' staying longer and spending more,

researchers say. The researchers, whose report appears in the current edition of 【M2】__

Hospitality Management (a journal), say the findings offer more evidence of the power

that aromas have to influence human behavior. In the past, studies have suggested,

among other things, that peppermint oil may help athletic performance and that

pleasant smells make people more collaborative and

even induce them to gamble more at casinos. 【M3】__

The authors of the new study say this is the first time

when researchers have looked at 【M4】__

the effect on restaurant customers of aromas - at least, those not coming from the kitchen.

In Brittany on three Saturday evenings at

a 22-seats restaurant that serves mainly pizza, 【M5】__

the researchers released either oil of lavender, oil of lemon or nothing at all. The scent

was spread by diffusers that plugged into

three electrical outlets. The study found 【M6】__

no change in customer behavior. when no scent was used or when they used lemon,

considering to have stimulating effects.

Things changed, though, 【M7】__

with the lavender,

which is believed to make people relax. In average, 【M8】__

customers spent about 15 minutes long in the restaurant. And they spent almost 【M9】__

4 euros more - about $5 Noting that the findings were in with earlier research, 【M10】__

the researchers wrote, "These studies taken together support the position that scents could

influence many consumption environments."

【M1】