Why Do Flowers Make Us Happy?

Flowers always make us smile and when we give them to others it makes us happy to see the smiles on their faces – so it's a win-win! But there’s a bit of science behind it.

Flowers trigger dopamine – a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate our mood. It's released when we experience pleasurable things, like eating chocolate, smelling freshly baked bread and of course flowers – whether it’s receiving them, growing them, arranging them, sniffing them, or simply admiring them on a walk.

Flowers also trigger oxytocin – the bonding hormone. Flowers communicate our intention to invest effort in a friendship or relationship. So when you see that bouquet sitting on your desk at work or smell the beautiful blooms that were given to you by a friend, you know someone has put thought into what they're doing for you – and that makes you feel good! Conversly, when you give someone flowers the same hormone is released.

Flowers are shown to release serotonin. Studies on colour have revealed that yellow blooms produce the highest level of this chemical. Often referenced as an anti-depressant, serotonin is released in the brain when you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. When we receive flowers from someone we love it makes us feel good about ourselves and increases our self-esteem.

Flowers are also historically associated with abundance of food after a long hungry winter. When flowers began to appear, our hunter-gatherer ancestors would know that food would become bountiful again. Many of us are not in a time where we need to think about foraging food, but our brain still links flowers with growth and abundance and the feeling that something special is coming. Think about how you feel when you see the first flowers of spring pop up – a fuzzy feeling of hope and good cheer!

Whether you give a bouquet to a loved one or treat yourself to a bunch of blooms, they're not only glorious to look at – they can actually make you happier. ✿