Introduction: Rose odor inhalation was reported to have anxiolytic effects. It also decreases plasma adrenalin concentration.
Objective: Using the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, the effect of rose water odor on cardiac parasympathetic activity was studied.
Methods: ECG was recorded for ten minute in the same condition and time (between 10-11 AM) from 8 healthy non-smoker volunteers who have not any olfactory disorders. By holding a bottle containing rose water under nostrils, the olfactory stimulus was started at the fifth minute for 120 seconds. At 1 kHz sampling rate, HRV was calculated and normalized on the basis of very low frequency component (0-0.04); the mean of low (LF, 0.04-0.15) and high (HF, 0.15-0.4 Hz) frequencies of two minute periods before and after the stimulus was compared.
Results: The mean of HF in normalized units (nu) before and after the exposure were 35.2236±4.46 and 51.01±4.67 respectively (p=0.013, df:7); The mean of average heart rate before and after the stimulation were 86.99±5.8 and 83.78±5.22 beat per minute (p=0.046, df:7).
Conclusion: 120 seconds rose odor inhalation increased cardiac parasympathetic activity. The rapid onset of this effect indicates that it may be related to a direct parasympathetic mechanism.