The Myth:

Peppermint improves cognitive function.

The Reality:

Your grade school teachers were right all along.

Image credit: Liz West via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

To me, the sharp scent of peppermint calls to mind glowing Christmas trees, carols on the radio, warm mugs of hot cocoa… and standardized testing. Teachers often gave us peppermints before important exams, claiming the smell would help improve our performance.

It might seem a bit far-fetched, but peppermint’s brain-boosting abilities have been backed up by multiple studies. Whiffs of peppermint were found to enhance their subjects’ attention and memory, all while helping them feel more alert. In fact, one study found that peppermint scent improved drivers’ focus and dampened feelings of frustration.