Creating an aromatic environment involves releasing compounds from plants into the air

generating a fragrant indoor atmosphere. Recent research highlighted the functional benefits of such environments on cognitive performance and sleep quality. Despite these positive findings

the impact on subjective perception and sick building syndrome (SBS) remains underexplored

even though this is the most direct and fundamental aspect of how aromatic environments affect individuals. This study reports on findings from a climate chamber experiment to simulate medium-to-long-term indoor exposure

investigating the effects of odor types

release conditions

and exposure time on subjective perception and SBS. To this end 44 young adults (22 males with average age of 21.6

and 22 females with average age of 21.9) were divided into 3 groups to experience different odors

while each of them participated in 6 aromatic cases and 1 odorless case. In each case participants exposed to aromatic environment for 4 h and the questionnaires were collected 3 times. Results indicate that as exposure time increases

the perceived impression and intensity of odors diminish

while comfort levels rise. Variations in concentration and release frequency effect odor impression and intensity

with these effects diminishing over time. Aromatic environments should be tailored to individual preferences

avoiding frequent intermittent releases and potentially harmful odors to improve comfort and evaluations of indoor air quality (IAQ).