Educación Médica Continua

The first language of baby is touch. Módulo 5: El olfato

The development of smell is different at each stage, and it has a different reaction when receiving certain aromas such as that of a perfume.

PREGNANCY: FETAL LIFE

• 2nd sense after touch
• Fetal functional receptors
• Odors distinctions at 30 weeks
• Poly-sensoriality

PREMATURE

• Smell is important for feeding
• Maternal milk odor favors succion

FULL-TERM

• Day 2: attraction to amniotic liquid
• Day 4: attraction to mother
• Pleasant smell more brain oxygenation
• Environment enriched in smells x neurons in olfactive bulb at adult age: more olfactive memory
• Lavander bath: less stress et cries
• Perfumed bath: more engagement 30%
• Mother’ milk smell: less  pain reaction
• Unpleasant smell: less massage pleasure

FULL-TERM: DIFFERENCES WITH ADULTS

• Immature olfaction
• Olfactive memory
• More sensitive to smell
• ≠ reactions girls-boys

Two studies were carried out with different methods, to know the perception of a fragrance formulated in a cosmetic product for babies.

Study 1:

The study. was carried out on 45 primiparous mothers with children from 0 to 18 months, they were exposed to Mustela perfume for 5 minutes. His heart activity, his voice were measured by audio recording and facial expressions recorded on video.

As a result, Mustela perfume induces pleasant reactions in mothers as seen in the following graphs.

BMIS: Brief Mood Introspection Scale *p<0.05

BMIS: Brief Mood Introspection Scale

Study 1:

In this study the emotional impact under stress conditions was evaluated. It is a blind study with Mustela perfume in two groups of parents with children aged 0-18 months. In the first group, 30 people (20 women and 10 men) were exposed, and in the second group 29 people (20 women and 9 men) were exposed.

Mental stress was induced through mental arithmetic exercises, and they recovered in two rooms, one sprayed with Mustela perfume and one not. The same parameters to evaluate as study 1 were taken.

As a result, the people who presented calm and calm were those who were exposed to the fragrance during their recovery period as shown in the following graphs.

As a result of studies, Mustela fragrance can help create a calm environment for parents and children during skin-to-skin interaction.