FROM their sugary outer shell to their delicious chocolate centre, there are few things to dislike about Cadbury’s Mini Eggs.
And another factor that makes the Easter treats even more delectable is their sweet smell.
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But did you know there’s actually a scientific reason that the chocolate eggs are scented the way they are?
According to Hetan Soni, scent pro and owner of Perfume Essence, it’s down to a combination of specific ingredients and how they interact with our brains.
“Mini Eggs have a sweet, creamy and vanilla-like scent, which are similar notes to those found in many best-selling perfumes,” Hetan explained.
“Chocolate contains compounds such as theobromine and vanillin, which are naturally enticing to us.
Read more Mini Egg stories
“These compounds trigger the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, which is the same feel-good hormone activated when we smell our favourite perfumes.”
Mini Eggs’ shell “traps and releases a burst of cocoa and vanilla notes” when it’s bitten into, or a packet of the sweets is ripped open.
And it just so happens that vanilla and chocolate are ” some of the most universally loved scents because they remind us of sweetness, warmth and positive experiences”.
Both perfume and chocolate interact with the “olfactory receptors”, which then activates the “limbic system – the part of the brain linked to memory and emotion”.
“This explains why the smell of Mini Eggs can send us straight back to simpler times, like Easter egg hunting as a child or the excitement of springtime.”
And if you’re a fan of the sweet treats’ scent, you can recreate it in the comfort of your own home.
“Essential oils with chocolate, vanilla or even a mix of cinnamon and sugar can be used in a diffuser to replicate the sweet and inviting smell of mini eggs around your home,” Hetan continued.
“You can either buy this pre made or mix your own for a DIY home hack.”
And given that you can get cinnamon sugar for just £1.50 in Waitrose, the hack is budget friendly too.
If you want to replicate the scent on your person too, try buying a perfume with “with gourmand notes, like vanilla, cocoa, caramel or praline”.
“These sweet scents mimic treats like Mini Eggs, triggering a nostalgic, emotional response,” Hetan said.
“Examples include Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium and Prada Candy – both offering a rich, sweet aroma similar to Mini Eggs.”
How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…
Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.
Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Or you could try a candle, like Yankee Candle’s Chocolate Eggs.
“Brands like Yankee Candle have caught onto how much everyone loves the Mini Egg smell, and have mimicked this in a candle,” Hetan explained
“You can get one of these for your home and burn the candle all day long to make your space smell like a Mini Egg factory and instantly impress your guests.”
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