If you’re trying to quit smoking and have struggled with persistent cigarette cravings, you may have seen products claiming that certain scents or inhalers can help. One example is the company Cigtrus whose website offers “natural smoking alternative” inhalers that use essential‑oils and flavors like mint, citrus and spearmint to help with oral fixation and cravings. According to their site: “Only essential oils. No additives.” They position their product as a nicotine‑free, tobacco‑free inhaler for quitting smoking.
But does science support the idea that scents can reduce cigarette cravings? In this post we’ll explore how cravings work, what research says about olfactory cues and aromatherapy in relation to smoking, how a product like Cigtrus fits into that context, and what practical steps you might try if you want to use scents as part of your quit‑smoking strategy.

How cigarette cravings work

To understand whether scents could make a difference, we need to look at how cigarette cravings arise. When someone smokes regularly, several factors come into play:

1. Nicotine dependence. Nicotine triggers neurochemical changes in the brain (dopamine, reward pathways). Over time, the body expects nicotine and reacts when it’s missing.
2. Oral fixation and behavioural routines. Smoking isn’t just about nicotine. Many smokers develop rituals: after coffee, before driving, during breaks, or social situations. The act of putting something to your lips, inhaling, exhaling, seeing the stick, smelling smoke all become cues.
3. Environmental and sensory cues. The smell of smoke, the sight of someone else smoking, the feel of an ashtray, the taste of a cigarette all become triggers that create strong associations and prompt craving.
4. Emotional and psychological triggers. Stress, boredom, social cues, habit loops all feed the craving. Even when nicotine levels aren’t low, the mind may call for a cigarette out of habit or emotion.

Because cravings are driven not only by chemistry but by cues, routines, sensory signals and habits, interventions that address these cues may help. That opens the door to the idea that olfactory cues (scents) might play a role in disrupting cravings.

What research says about scents and cravings

Here we explore the scientific evidence for using scents or aromatherapy to reduce cigarette cravings.

Olfactory cues as craving disruptors

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh (UPitt) looked at whether smelling a pleasant odor could reduce urge to smoke. In the study:

• More than 200 smokers were asked to smell various odors and rate them as pleasant, tobacco‑smell, or neutral.
• They then held a lit cigarette (but did not smoke), rated their craving, and then were randomly assigned to sniff either their favorite pleasant odor, a tobacco odor, or a neutral odor for 5 minutes while rating their craving each minute.
• The participants who sniffed the pleasant odor showed significantly lower craving ratings than those who sniffed tobacco or neutral odors.
• The effect lasted for the 5‑minute period they measured.

This research suggests that pleasant smells may briefly interrupt the craving cycle. As one article put it: “For smokers trying to quit, pleasant scents may help curb cigarette cravings.”

Aromatherapy and essential oils for smoking cessation

Beyond generic scent cues, there are smaller pilot studies of aromatherapy (using essential oils such as black pepper, angelica, lavender) in nicotine craving contexts.

• One small pilot found that inhaling black pepper oil or angelica oil reduced nicotine cravings and increased time before next use.
• Another looked at lavender odor in inhalants and found some effect in substitution therapy for inhalant use.
• A more recent review (2022) noted that various olfactory stimuli, including essential oils, can reduce the urge to smoke, though the evidence remains limited.

What the evidence tells us (and what it doesn’t)

What we know:

• Pleasant odors can produce measurable reductions in self‑reported cigarette craving in a controlled lab setting.
• These effects appear short‑term (minutes) and best described as craving disruptors rather than full quit solutions.
• Olfactory cues may work by distraction, shifting attention, activating positive memories, or reducing negative states like stress.

What we don’t know (yet):

• Whether these scent techniques translate into long‑term smoking cessation (weeks, months, years).
• The optimal scent types, delivery methods or dosing (how often, how long, which oils).
• How scent interventions compare with or complement standard tools (nicotine replacement, counseling, medications).
• Which types of smokers benefit most (heavy vs light, those in quitting mode vs not ready).

So while the research supports the idea that scents can help reduce cravings, it does not support the claim that scent – by itself – is a full quit‑smoking cure.

How products like Cigtrus align with the research

How this product mirrors the research:

• It uses flavored/aromatic inhalation which matches the idea of olfactory cues disrupting smoking urge.
• By being nicotine‑free, it positions as a behavioural support tool, not just chemical replacement.
• The flavors and scents (mint, citrus) may match those that research found useful (pleasant peppermint, lemon) in reducing craving.

What to keep in mind:

• Because the research shows scent effects are short‑term, using a product like Cigtrus may help in the moment of craving, but won’t fully replace quitting tools (patches, therapy).
• The site does not appear to provide independent clinical trial data for its specific product. The product relies on the broader scientific idea of scent intervention.
• Individual responses vary: what smells pleasant to one person may not to another; scent memory and personal associations matter. Research found that people with strong autobiographical memory responded better.

Practical strategies for using scents to help quit smoking

If you’re interested in trying the scent‑craving approach alongside your quit efforts, here are actionable strategies:

1. Choose a “go‑to” pleasant scent

Pick a scent you genuinely like (peppermint, lemon, vanilla, spearmint). Because research suggests favorite odors work better.
Keep a small inhaler, essential oil vial, or scented object at hand (desk, car, nightstand).
When a cigarette craving hits, pause and inhale the scent for 2‑5 minutes. Rate your urge before and after if you like.

2. Use it as a pause tool

When craving hits, reach for the scent immediately instead of the cigarette. Use that time (the 5 minutes research notes) to:

• Reflect on your quit motivation
• Drink water or brush your teeth
• Get up and move or call a friend
  Because if the scent interruption gives you time, it may help you avoid relapse in that high‑risk moment.

3. Pair scent with other coping habits

Combining scent with other behavioural supports improves chances:

• Deep breathing + scented inhalation
• Chewing sugar‑free gum with aroma
• Mindfulness: focus on smell, feel the aroma in your lungs, notice craving pass
• Remove usual smoking cues (ashtray, lighter) and replace with scent cue

4. Monitor your response

Keep a craving log for a week: whenever you feel urge, note whether you used the scent and how the craving changed (duration, intensity).
Over time you may identify patterns: e.g., coffee triggers craving, so next time use the scent right after coffee instead of smoking.

5. Be realistic

Remember: scent tools are supportive, not stand‑alone solutions. Keep your quit plan broad: set a quit date, consider nicotine‑replacement if appropriate, get behavioural counselling, avoid triggers. Use the scent as part of your arsenal.
If cravings persist strongly or you relapse, don’t abandon quitting revisit your quit strategy and consider professional help.

Pros and cons of using scent‑inhalers for smoking cessation

Pros

• Non‑pharmacological option (no nicotine, no tobacco)
• Easy to carry and use ″in the moment″
• May reduce intensity of cravings and give you time to choose not to smoke
• Can replace oral fixation (putting something to your lips) with inhaler instead of cigarette

Cons

• Effects are short‑term (minutes) and may wear off
• Not enough evidence to guarantee long‑term quit success alone
• Personal preference matters: if you dislike the scent, it may not help
• Might become a “replacement habit” but still require quitting the underlying addiction
• Cost of specialty inhalers may add up

Scent‑based tools like inhalers or essential‑oil sniff strategies show promise as craving interrupters for smokers. Research supports that pleasant smells can reduce the urge to smoke for a few minutes by diverting attention, engaging memory, or disrupting cue‑triggered craving. Products such as Cigtrus align with these findings by offering portable, flavored inhalers marketed for “craving relief” and “oral fixation” support. However, these tools are not a complete quitting solution by themselves. They work best when integrated into a broader quit‑smoking strategy that includes behavioural changes, trigger avoidance, counselling and possibly nicotine‑replacement therapy. If you decide to try a scent‑based inhaler, use it immediately when a craving hits, pair it with other coping habits and monitor whether it helps reduce intensity or duration of urge.