Multisensory Art: How Abstract Art and Scent Can Boost Your Mental Health
- Dr Lydia C Saiz
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11
When was the last time you lost yourself in a swirl of colours on a canvas, or paused to take in the gentle scent of lavender or lemon in the air?
We often think of art as something beautiful to hang on the wall. But did you know that creating and even simply looking at art can actually improve your mental health? And when you add sensory elements like scent into the mix, the benefits become even stronger.
In this post, we explore what the research says about how abstract art and sensory stimulation - like smell - can help reduce stress, lift your mood, support mindfulness, and give your brain a healthy workout.
Multisensory Art Is Good for Your Brain (Even If You’re Not an Artist)
You don’t need to be Picasso to benefit from picking up a paintbrush. Studies show that making art at any skill level helps lower cortisol, the hormone linked to stress. One study found that just 45 minutes of creative activity significantly reduced cortisol levels, leaving participants feeling calmer and more relaxed (Kaimal et al., 2016).
But the benefits aren’t limited to making art. Simply viewing art - especially abstract art -can also lower stress levels and improve your mood (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). Abstract art invites your imagination to wander. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to interpret it, and this sense of freedom allows the mind to relax and engage creatively.
Art Helps You Express What Words Can’t
Have you ever felt something so deeply that words just didn’t seem enough? Abstract art provides a safe way to express emotions that might be hard to put into language. Using shapes, colours, and textures, you can communicate feelings like frustration, joy, grief, or hope.
Creative arts therapists often use this approach to help people process emotions and find relief from anxiety or overwhelm (Malchiodi, 2013). The process of “externalising” feelings onto a canvas can bring a sense of release and clarity.
Creating Art Can Be Mindful (Without Sitting Still)
If meditation isn’t your thing, art might be your path to mindfulness. When you’re fully absorbed in choosing colours, layering textures, or watching the flow of paint, your mind naturally shifts into the present moment.
This state of focus, often called flow, is linked to lower anxiety and higher feelings of wellbeing (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). Even taking time to sit with a piece of art and notice its details can be a mindfulness exercise in itself.
Adding Scent: The Power of a Multisensory Experience
Now, imagine that as you paint or admire art, the air around you is filled with the gentle aroma of eucalyptus, mint, or lavender. This simple addition makes the experience even more calming - and it’s known as multisensory art.
Research on aromatherapy shows that certain scents can reduce stress, lower heart rate, and improve mood (Herz, 2009). In creative settings, adding scent to the space where people engage in art has been shown to help them feel more relaxed and emotionally grounded (Mäkelä et al., 2019).
In one study, people participating in a virtual art experience reported feeling significantly less anxious when calming scents were added to the environment (D'Cunha et al., 2019). The combination of visual stimulation and aroma works together to soothe the nervous system and deepen the sense of immersion.
It’s Not Just Good for Your Mood - It’s Good for Your Brain, Too
When you engage with abstract art, your brain becomes active in ways that support creative thinking and problem-solving. Abstract art has been shown to activate the brain’s default mode network, the part of the brain linked to imagination, memory, and introspection (Vessel et al., 2012).
This helps explain why people often feel inspired, thoughtful, or even energised after spending time with art. Whether you’re making it or observing it, art encourages curiosity, flexibility, and self-reflection.
Takeaway: Give Yourself Permission to Play
The research is clear: engaging with art, especially abstract art that activates your imagination, and bringing in sensory elements like scent can have powerful benefits for your mental wellbeing.
Whether it’s through painting, visiting an art gallery, or simply taking a mindful moment with a favourite artwork at home, art offers a creative way to relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourself.
So next time life feels a little too fast, try this: pause, take a breath, pick up a brush, or simply enjoy the colours and forms around you. Maybe light a candle with a calming scent while you’re at it. Your mind and body will thank you.
References:
Kaimal, G. et al. (2016). Reduction of cortisol levels following art making. Art Therapy.
Mastandrea, S. et al. (2019). Art and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2013). Art Therapy and Health Care.Herz, R. S. (2009). Aromatherapy facts and fictions. International Journal of Neuroscience.
D'Cunha, N. M. et al. (2019). Multisensory virtual reality and anxiety reduction. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Vessel, E. A. et al. (2012). The brain on art. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Stuckey, H. L. & Nobel, J. (2010). Art, healing, and public health. American Journal of Public Health.
Mäkelä, J. et al. (2019). Aroma stimulation in art-making and mood. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention.
Are you ready to explore the power of multisensory art?
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