July 13, 2026, 8:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Can the mere scent of chocolate influence strength training? Researchers from Malaysia explored this unusual question in a study. They wanted to find out if the smell of chocolate could alter training performance and hunger levels–without participants eating any of it. The results provide intriguing insights. FITBOOK also interviewed the study authors about this.
Chocolate scent could improve strength training performance
The researchers compared the scent of dark and milk chocolate with a neutral solution. They examined whether the aroma affected strength training performance as well as hunger and satiety levels.
The result: Under both chocolate scents, participants achieved better training results than in the control condition. The effect was strongest with dark chocolate. Its scent also reduced hunger and increased feelings of fullness.
The researchers themselves were surprised by how pronounced this effect was. “The extent of the performance increase, especially with the scent of dark chocolate, was quite remarkable. It confirmed that olfactory stimuli can significantly influence physical performance, even if participants don’t realize they’re working harder,” study author Dr. Mohamed Nashrudin Naharudin told FITBOOK.
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Conducting the study
The study involved 23 healthy men who had been experienced in strength training for at least two years. Before each test, they fasted for at least ten hours. Each participant completed the same workout on three different days, smelling either 90% dark chocolate, 60% milk chocolate, or a scentless liquid.1
Before the workout and before each new set, participants inhaled the respective scent for 30 seconds. They then performed a thigh muscle exercise until no further repetitions were possible. The researchers counted how many repetitions and sets the men completed. They also asked about hunger, appetite, and perceived exertion.
The study results in detail
Even before the workout, the scent of dark chocolate was noticeable. Participants felt less hungry, had less appetite, and reported feeling full faster. The scent of milk chocolate, on the other hand, had little impact on hunger.
The most significant differences were in training performance: After smelling dark chocolate, participants completed an average of 18 more repetitions than after the scentless solution. Compared to milk chocolate, they did nine more repetitions. They also completed an additional training set on average.
The scent of milk chocolate also had a positive effect. Compared to the scentless solution, participants completed an average of nine more repetitions. Although they performed more overall, the training did not feel more strenuous than in the other test rounds.
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What this means
The study provides initial evidence that food-related scents could influence strength training in a fasted state. However, the study could not fully explain why the chocolate scent improved training performance. While participants felt less hungry and fuller under the scent of dark chocolate, a direct link between these changes and better performance could not be established.
According to the researchers, the participants’ fasted state may have played a crucial role. “The overnight fasting was likely a key factor. Our theory is that the scent works by modulating appetite signals. When you’re already fasting, hunger is a competing internal distraction. Eliminating this distraction allows for greater focus and higher training volume,” explains Dr. Naharudin.
It is generally considered plausible that scents can influence our eating behavior and motivation. A 2024 review describes that the sense of smell is closely linked to brain regions that control hunger, reward, and metabolism. The mere scent of food can trigger signals that prepare the body for potential food intake. However, whether these processes also explain the improved training performance in the current study has not yet been proven.2
Strengths and weaknesses of the study and how to interpret it
The study has several strengths. Each participant completed all three test conditions, allowing for better comparison of results. Additionally, neither the participants nor the researchers knew which chocolate condition was being tested, reducing the risk of expectations influencing the results.
Nevertheless, the results should be interpreted with caution. Only 23 young, healthy men who regularly engaged in strength training participated in the study. It is unclear whether the results can be generalized to women, older individuals, or those who are untrained. Furthermore, only a single strength exercise was examined.
A critical point is that participants could easily recognize the scentless control liquid (water). This could have influenced their expectations and, consequently, their performance unconsciously.
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While the study shows that participants performed better under the chocolate scent, it cannot prove that the scent was actually the cause of the performance increase. The biological or psychological processes behind this remain open. Further studies are needed to determine whether the results can be confirmed and applied to other groups or sports.