Students are bulk buying rosemary because it can improve memory

With exam season well underway, students across the country will poring over their textbooks and revision notes in the hopes of boosting their chances of scoring top marks over the next few weeks.

But while many students turn to caffeine and sugary energy drinks to help them get through an all-night cramming session before a big exam, experts are saying there may be a healthier way to sharpen your memory ahead of an important test.

According to new research, sniffing a handful of rosemary could significantly help to sharpen your skills of recognition before a big exam.

A study by Northumbria University looked at how different aromas could impact memory function.

The researchers found that students who took a memory test in a room that had been diffused with the familiar herby scent scored five to seven per cent better results.

“It could be that aromas affect electrical activity in the brain or that pharmacologically active compounds can be absorbed,” said researcher Mark Moss.

He described it as "almost like a drug interaction" where the brain is influenced by what is being inhaled.

Now students are bulk buying the herb ahead of exam season, in a bid to improve their memory skills.

According to health food shop Holland & Barrett, sales of rosemary have increased by 187 per cent over the past year.

The high street chain says it has had to order in extra stocks to meet the unprecedented high demand for the herb.

“We saw a sharp rise in customer demand,” a spokesperson for Holland & Barrett said. “As the exam season continues, we have increased provision in store to meet demand.”

As news of the rosemary rush spread, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver took to Twitter to give students some top tips on getting the most out of their herbs.

“Students i hear you’ve been using #rosemary to boost revision memory??,” he Tweeted.

“Top tip - dip in boiling water to release more oils!!! good luck guys!”

People have linked rosemary with memory-improvement for hundreds of years. Students in Ancient Greece even went as far as wearing thick garlands of rosemary around their necks for good luck.

The researchers how hope to extend the study, with "large-scale trials of aroma application in education settings".

They believe that adults, as well as teens and children, could benefit from inhaling the memory-boosting aroma.