6 Perfume Ingredients That Support Abundance — Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
By Kershen Teo, Founder & Perfumer, Prosody London
Can perfume help you attract abundance? The honest answer depends on what you mean. If you mean that wearing the right fragrance will directly manifest money or luck — that is a belief, not a scientific claim. But if you mean that fragrance can measurably affect your mood, reduce anxiety, build confidence, clear mental fog, and create the psychological conditions in which you are more likely to pursue opportunities and act decisively — then the science is genuinely compelling.
Across cultures and throughout history, certain aromatic ingredients have been used in rituals of prosperity, focus, and spiritual alignment. We now understand many of the mechanisms behind these effects. The ingredients revered for centuries in ancient Egyptian temples, Islamic meditation, and Ayurvedic practice turn out to have measurable neurological and psychological properties — and these properties are precisely what creates the conditions for abundance.
The connection between scent, mindset, and abundance
Before examining the individual ingredients, it’s worth understanding the mechanism by which fragrance affects the mind at all.
Scent is the only sense with a direct neural pathway to the limbic system — the brain’s emotional and memory centre — bypassing the thalamus entirely. When you inhale an aromatic compound, the olfactory receptor neurons send signals directly to the amygdala and hippocampus, structures that govern emotional response, memory formation, and stress regulation. This is why scent provokes immediate emotional responses in a way that visual or auditory stimuli do not.
This neurological directness is the foundation of aromatherapy as a legitimate field. It is also why the ingredients below, used in fragrances applied to the skin and worn throughout the day, can have a sustained effect on mood, confidence, and mental clarity — the internal states that genuinely support abundance-seeking behaviour. For more on natural fragrance ingredients and how they differ from synthetic alternatives, see our dedicated guide
1. Bergamot — the citrus that reduces anxiety and helps attract abundance
Bergamot is one of the most scientifically validated ingredients used to attract abundance — not through mystical properties, but through its documented effect on anxiety, confidence, and mental clarity. In Western magical tradition it has long been associated with money-drawing and confidence rituals. In folk herbalism across the Mediterranean, it was considered a tonic for clarity and optimism.
The science behind these associations is substantial. Clinical research has shown bergamot essential oil aromatherapy provides beneficial effects including reduced heart rate, blood pressure, stress responses, depression, and anxiety. A 2023 randomised crossover trial involving 48 university students found that using bergamot essential oil before bedtime produced significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress, with improvements also observed in sleep quality and morning wakefulness.
Most significantly, a 2024 neuroscience study published in Advanced Science identified the precise neural circuit through which bergamot essential oil exerts its anxiolytic effects — activating glutamatergic projections from the anterior olfactory nucleus to GABAergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex. This is not folklore. The mechanism by which bergamot reduces anxiety has now been mapped at the circuit level.
For abundance-seeking behaviour, the implications are direct: anxiety is one of the primary psychological barriers to seizing opportunities. A fragrance that measurably reduces anxiety creates a more receptive, confident mental state — which is what the traditional association with prosperity was capturing all along.
Agarwood (Oud) — the resin of royalty and a historic symbol of abundance
Agarwood is the ingredient most consistently associated with attract abundance rituals across Middle Eastern, Indian, and Southeast Asian tradition — and for reasons that go beyond cultural belief. It is formed when the Aquilaria tree becomes infected with a specific mould and produces a dark, resinous heartwood as a defence response — a process that takes decades and results in extraordinary chemical complexity. For more on this remarkable ingredient, see our guide to what oud is made from.
In Islamic tradition, oud is associated with divine blessing, spiritual transcendence, and abundance. It has been used in meditation and prayer across the Middle East and South Asia for millennia. In Hindu ritual, agarwood incense is burned to invoke deities and bring prosperity. In Japanese kōdō — the art of incense appreciation — oud is the most prized material, associated with clarity of mind and refined perception.
What the science adds to this cultural history: the complex aromatic compounds in genuine agarwood — sesquiterpenes, chromones, and other constituents — interact with olfactory receptors in ways that promote deep, meditative states. The depth and slowness with which oud evolves on skin encourages presence and attentiveness rather than agitation — the contemplative state from which clear-headed decision-making emerges.
The key distinction, as a perfumer, is between genuine natural oud and the synthetic oud alternatives that dominate mainstream perfumery. The latter are single aromatic molecules that smell oud-like but lack the chemical complexity that produces these effects. See our guide to luxury fragrances and quality ingredients for more on why this matters.
3. Patchouli — the earthy grounding ingredient to attract abundance
Patchouli has one of the most material histories of any ingredient associated with attract abundance — its connection to wealth is literally rooted in trade.
In contemporary metaphysical practice, patchouli is a staple of money-drawing and grounding rituals. Its earthy, musky, slightly sweet aroma is said to align the wearer with the energy of growth, manifestation, and material abundance.
The psychological mechanism here is grounding. Patchouli’s heavy, earthy base note character creates a sense of physical presence and stability — the psychological opposite of scattered, anxious energy. In fragrance composition, patchouli in the base adds a weighty, assured quality to the overall accord that translates into a sense of solidity and confidence in the wearer. This is why it appears so frequently in powerful, authoritative masculine and feminine fragrances, and why its traditional association with material prosperity has persisted across cultures and centuries.
4. Ginger — the fiery catalyst that creates momentum to attract abundance
In Ayurvedic tradition, ginger is the ingredient that removes obstacles and creates forward momentum — the stimulating energy that turns intention to attract abundance into decisive action. Its association with prosperity comes from its ability to create momentum: warm, spicy, immediately activating.
The neuroscience behind ginger’s stimulating properties centres on its active compounds — primarily gingerols and shogaols — which interact with TRPV1 receptors and have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and cognitive effects in research. The stimulating, warming quality of ginger in a fragrance is not merely olfactive — it creates a genuine sense of activation, clarity, and readiness that the Ayurvedic tradition recognised as conducive to effective action.
In the context of abundance-seeking behaviour, ginger’s contribution is momentum. Where bergamot removes the anxiety that prevents action, and oud creates contemplative depth, ginger ignites the forward energy needed to pursue opportunities once they are perceived. See our guide to perfume ingredients and scent attraction for more on how these elements interact.
5. Frankincense — the sacred ingredient with proven properties to attract abundance
Frankincense is perhaps the most scientifically interesting ingredient on this list when it comes to attract abundance — because the research has now identified exactly why ancient cultures used it to create the conditions for prosperity. Religious leaders have contended for millennia that burning incense is good for the soul — and biologists have now learned it is good for our brains too.
The active compound responsible for frankincense’s psychoactive effects is incensole acetate, a constituent of Boswellia resin. Research from Johns Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem found that incensole acetate is a potent TRPV3 agonist that causes anxiolytic-like and antidepressive-like behavioural effects — activating ion channels in the brain involved in emotions as well as nerve circuits affected by current anxiety and depression drugs.
Further research confirmed that frankincense essential oil significantly reduced corticosterone levels — a key stress hormone — in study subjects, and can counter the effects of stress by relieving sleep debt and maintaining antioxidant capacity.
The traditional use of frankincense as a “sacred cleanser” that creates a purified space for prosperity to enter turns out to have a neurological basis: it genuinely reduces the biochemical markers of stress and promotes the mental clarity associated with good decision-making. The ancient practitioners who burned frankincense before important rituals and negotiations were, in modern terms, creating a lower-cortisol environment for their deliberations.
6. Cinnamon — the warmth of fortune and protection to attract abundance
Cinnamon’s association with attract abundance spans ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and Chinese medicine — a spice so valuable it was literally used as currency and temple offering. In ancient Egyptian sacred temple offerings, cinnamon was considered worthy of the gods. In Chinese medicine, it is valued for stimulating circulation and invigorating energy. In folk traditions across both Eastern and Western cultures, its warm, comforting scent invokes protection, prosperity, and good fortune.
Modern research on cinnamon’s aromatic compounds — particularly cinnamaldehyde and eugenol — shows measurable effects on alertness, cognitive performance, and mood. The warmth and sweetness of cinnamon in a fragrance creates a psychological sense of comfort and security — the emotional foundation from which confident, abundance-seeking behaviour naturally emerges.
The ritual of application
The traditional practice of applying fragrance with intention has genuine psychological basis in what we now call priming — the well-documented effect whereby environmental cues, including scent, prime associated mental states and behaviours.
When you apply a fragrance mindfully — with clear attention to the process, a stated intention, and deliberate application to key points — you are engaging a multi-sensory priming process. The scent becomes associated with your intention, and every time you smell it during the day, the limbic system reactivates the associated state. This is the mechanism behind the traditional ritual described across cultures.
Suggested application: Before applying, take a moment to settle your attention. Apply to the inner wrists, the heart centre, and the base of the neck. As you do, hold your intention clearly in mind — whether that is clarity, confidence, openness to opportunity, or a specific goal. The affirmation “I am open to and deserving of abundance” is not metaphysical — it is a cognitive priming technique with documented effects on subsequent behaviour. Wear the fragrance as a consistent reminder of that intention throughout the day.
Prosody London Oud Octavo — the abundance fragrance
Key notes: Top: Bergamot, Saffron · Heart: Oud, Patchouli, Amber · Base: Musk, Sandalwood
Prosody London’s Oud Octavo brings together bergamot, agarwood, patchouli, ginger, cinnamon, and frankincense — all six ingredients discussed above — in a 100% natural eau de parfum of remarkable depth and sophistication.
As a perfumer, I spent three years developing this composition. The challenge with oud is that it dominates everything around it if you allow it to — the work is in creating space for the other materials to express themselves while the oud provides the structural backbone. Bergamot and saffron in the opening provide the brightness and clarity that bergamot’s neurological properties suggest. Patchouli and amber in the heart add the grounding, earthy assurance associated with material stability. The musk and sandalwood base creates the lasting, skin-close warmth that carries through hours of wear.
The result is not simply a fragrance that smells extraordinary — it is a composition designed, with full understanding of what each material does, to create a sustained state of confident, grounded, clear-headed presence.
Who it’s for: Those who want a fragrance with both sensory depth and the psychological properties the ancient tradition of abundance-invoking scent was designed to create.
How long it lasts: 10–12 hours. Oud and patchouli are among the most tenacious natural materials in perfumery.
Why natural ingredients matter here
The psychological effects described above apply specifically to natural essential oils — the materials extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing from the original botanical source.
Synthetic aromatic molecules, which dominate mainstream perfumery, are engineered to smell like the natural materials but do not contain the complex phytochemical profiles responsible for these effects. A synthetic “oud” contains none of the sesquiterpenes and chromones of genuine agarwood. A synthetic “bergamot” lacks the limonene and linalool compounds whose anxiolytic mechanisms have been identified in the research above.
This is one reason natural perfumery occupies a different category from simply “fragrance” — the ingredients themselves, used in their natural state, carry properties that synthetic replacements cannot replicate. There is also the broader health consideration: synthetic fragrance fixatives including phthalates and synthetic musks have been linked to endocrine disruption — a particular concern for a product intended to support wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions
Can perfume really attract abundance? Fragrance cannot directly manifest wealth or opportunity. What it can do — and what the science increasingly confirms — is measurably affect your mood, reduce anxiety, improve confidence, and create the mental clarity and forward momentum that are the genuine psychological preconditions for abundance. The ancient association between these ingredients and prosperity reflects an accurate intuition about their effects on human psychology.
What makes these ingredients effective? Each ingredient works through a different mechanism: bergamot’s limonene and linalool compounds have documented anxiolytic effects. Frankincense’s incensole acetate activates specific ion channels in the brain associated with reduced anxiety and depression. Patchouli and oud create grounding, presence, and depth. Ginger and cinnamon provide stimulating warmth and momentum. Together, they create a comprehensive psychological environment supportive of confident, opportunity-seeking behaviour.
Why use a natural perfume for this purpose? The psychological and physiological effects described above are specific to the natural botanical materials. Synthetic replacements smell similar but lack the complex phytochemical profiles that produce these effects. For a fragrance intended to influence your psychological state, the authenticity of the ingredients genuinely matters.
How does scent affect mood and behaviour? Scent has a direct neural pathway to the limbic system — the brain’s emotional centre — that bypasses the thalamus. This directness is why scent provokes immediate emotional responses and why it can prime associated mental states throughout the day. Read more about how natural fragrance ingredients work.
Explore further
- Oud Octavo — the abundance fragrance
- What is oud made from
- Endocrine disruptors in perfume
- Phthalate-free perfume
- Perfume ingredients and quality
- Natural perfume for men
- Scent ingredients to attract abundance
- Build Your Own 6 x 2ml Discovery Set
Kershen Teo is the founder and perfumer of Prosody London, an organic and botanical fragrance house based in London. All Prosody London fragrances are composed from 100% botanical ingredients, sourced to IFRA and Soil Association standards.
