Aromatherapy just escaped the healing-crystal aisle and wandered straight into neuroscience. In a new study out of Japan, researchers say that wearing rose essential oil on your clothes for a month—basically marinating yourself in grandma-core perfume—actually increased gray matter volume in the brain.

The experiment, published in Brain Research Bulletin (an extremely real journal, despite the energy of its name), tracked more than 50 women who lived four straight weeks of eau de rose exposure. Researchers scanned their brains before and after, splitting participants into two camps: those scented like a botanical gift basket, and those wearing a neutral water solution (the control group, and also kind of the losers in this scenario).

ALSO THIS: This Viral TikTok Fragrance Will Make You Smell Like a War Crime

Stop and Smell the Roses… and Grow a Chunk of Brain Tissue?

The rose-scented group showed measurable growth in overall gray matter volume, especially in a spot called the posterior cingulate cortex, which helps with memory and associative thinking. It’s the same region that shrinks in Alzheimer’s patients, which makes this whole thing feel like the wellness-industrial complex just unlocked a weird cheat code.

Strangely, the scent did nothing to the areas of the brain that process emotions or smell. So, the roses didn’t make you happier, didn’t make you better at smelling, but did apparently bulk up a piece of your cognitive machinery like it was leg day.

Scientists say gray-matter changes could reflect either positive stimulation (“mmm, roses”) or the mental gymnastics of tolerating a scent you secretly hate. In other words: even if you were quietly miserable, your brain was doing reps.

It’s a tiny study, short-term, and limited to a specific group of women, so we’re still firmly in “quirky science footnote” territory. But if this is the beginning of olfactory neuroplasticity becoming a thing, we’ll take it.

And if you want to test the theory (or just smell like a luxury skincare commercial), here are some rose oils, massage candles, and intimacy products to douse yourself in. Worst case? You smell amazing. Best case? Big brain vibes.

MORE ON FRAGRANCES: Your Perfume Might Be Destroying Your Skin’s Anti-Pollution Shield

Rose Oils & Massage Picks to Test Your New Brain-Growth Ritual

Alteya Organic Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil is a steam-distilled, organic rose oil derived from Rosa damascena, prized for its rich, layered floral aroma and touted for its potential benefits in aromatherapy, mood-lifting, and skin care. It’s often used by itself or blended into massage oils, lotions or diffusers to add a luxurious rose scent while hydrating and soothing skin.

LittleFlowerSoapCo Passion Massage Oil Black Pepper & Rose is a sensual, small-batch massage oil blending arnica, St. John’s wort, argan, and essential oils, with a rich rose-black pepper-patchouli-cedarwood scent designed to soothe muscles and set a romantic mood. Great for full-body or couple’s massage, it moisturizes skin and eases tension while delivering a warm, floral-spicy aroma.

Good Clean Love Caribbean Rose Massage Candle is a massage candle that melts into a warm, aromatic oil infused with exotic rose scent and natural oils that are designed to turn any evening into a sensual, intimate massage experience. Light it, let it melt, then pour warm oil onto skin for a romantic spa-like moment at home.

Bee Inspired Goods Rose Garden Massage Candle is a dual-purpose candle and massage oil: once burnt into a liquid, it transforms into a warm, skin-safe oil combining rose, lavender and geranium, perfect for a sensual massage or moistening dry skin. Its botanical blend and cozy ambient glow make it a nice pick for romantic nights or self-care rituals.

Earthly Body Hemp Seed 3-in-1 Massage Candle Zen Berry Rose Scent is a 3-in-1 candle that melts into a warm massage oil offering smooth glide and deep hydration, scented with a rose-berry-amber blend that fills the room with calming floral-fruity vibes. When applied to skin, it leaves a soft, moisturized finish and adds a sensual, spa-like feel to massages.

NOW Solutions Tranquil Rose Massage Oil is great for couples massage or daily body massage, this top-reviewed oil is appreciated for its smooth glide and subtle rose scent.

Eclectic Lady Rose Massage Oil is a handcrafted rose-scented massage oil combining plant-based carrier oils for smooth application and hydration, with a floral rose aroma that adds softness and romance to bodywork. Offers a gentle, subtle scent that’s good for full-body massage.