BACKGROUND ART Various attempts have been made to improve the consciousness and to enhance the volition of aged persons, demented persons, intellectually handicapped persons and the like.

If such attempts can achieve a better condition in them, it is very good; at least, such attempts can prevent increase of the burden imposed on themselves or people around them, by maintaining the present condition of them.

Recently, as the aging of population proceeds, the number of lightly or heavily demented aged persons is growing more and more. As a part of measures for senior citizens, the maintaining or improving of the consciousness of aged persons and the restoring of their volition have been vigorously attempted.

The term"demented aged persons" (hereinafter referred to as"demented elders") used herein means those aged persons who have"dementia" (a condition in which mental functions are lowered because of some disease) separate from the physiological aging of mentality resulted from their advanced age. "Dementia"is a condition in which once developed intelligence is lowered continuously because the brain has been destroyed for some reason, and in which an acquired symptom accompanying organic changes is in a stabilized or irreversible chronic state. Dementia may be classified into the following two cases: organic brain disease where the brain is damaged and functional disease called pseudodementia which is caused by mere changes of functions. Various kinds of dementia are known, e. g. post-stroke dementia or multi-infarct dementia, cerebrovascular dementia such as dementia caused by chronic subdural hemorrhage, presenile Alzheimer's disease in which dementia is generated as a result of brain atrophy caused by degeneration/death of brain nerve cells, Alzheimer-type senile dementia, dementia such as Pick's disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease caused by encephalatrophic atrophic change, dementia caused by disorder in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, or dementia associated with progressive

paralysis, alcoholic dementia or bodily diseases, and dementia associated with infection or lesion.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is known that certain perfumes have pharmacological, psychological and physiological effects on healthy persons who have normal mental function or normal intelligence. For example,"Japanese Patent Office Gazette: Well-Known/Conventional Technologies (Perfumes) Part I : Perfumes in General" (published by the Japanese Patent Office in 1999), pp. 222-225 discloses a list of perfumes which are known to have such effects. However, no perfumes have been known yet which are able to influence even the emotion (feeling and will) of demented elders whose mental function is lowered because of some brain damage or changes in brain function. If perfumes which not only influence the emotion of demented elders but also push their behavior associated with the emotion to thereby improve the behavior can be provided, it is believed that such perfumes can reduce the burden imposed on themselves or persons around them. The industrial applicability of such perfumes is enormous.

It is an object of the invention to provide a technique utilizing aroma (flavor and/or fragrance) as a technique of improving the emotion, consciousness and willingness of demented elders to thereby improve their behavior more simply and safely. It is another object of the invention to provide a technique of enhancing the consciousness of demented elders, as well as promoting enhancement of the consciousness of demented elders, or letting their consciousness last for a long time ; and a technique of letting demented elders have interest in things around them and letting their interest last for a long time. Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method of suppressing the behavior of demented elders who show behavior to be cared for (such as prowl).

As a result of extensive and intensive researches toward the solution of the above problems, the present inventors have found that the behavior of demented elders can be changed by supplying perfumed products to their action (event). Further, the inventors have found that their behavior can be activated or suppressed depending on the kind of the perfume used. Thus, the present invention has been achieved. It has been also found that even if the amount of perfume is so small that demented elders cannot discriminate the kind or intensity of the perfume loaded to the product, the effect is remarkable.

The present invention provides a perfume (flavor and/or fragrance) for improving the behavior of demented elders, containing one or more plant-derived essential oils.

In the perfume for improving behavior according to the invention, the plant is

preferably one or more plants selected from the group consisting of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zevlanicum), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), jasmine (Jasminum officinale var. p. grandiflorum) and peppermint (Mentha piperita var. vulgaris).

The present invention also provides a perfume for activating the behavior of demented elders, containing one or more plant-derived essential oils. In this perfume, the plant is preferably one or more plants selected from the group consisting of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), peppermint (Mentlzapiperzta var. yllgaris) and jasmine (Jasminum officinale var. gl-ai7diyoruiii).

The present invention also provides a perfume for suppressing the behavior of demented elders, containing one or more plant-derived essential oils. In this perfume, the plant is preferably cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

The present invention also provides a method of use of a perfume containing one or more plant-derived essential oils, for improving the behavior of demented elders.

The present invention also provides a method of improving the behavior of demented elders, comprising using a perfume containing one or more plant-derived essential oils.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to enhance the consciousness and volition of demented elders simply and safely to thereby improve their behavior. Furthermore, it is possible to activate or suppress the behavior depending on the symptoms of the target demented elders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1A is a graph comparing the number of times the cinnamon perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder A).

Fig. 1B is a graph comparing the number of times the cinnamon perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder B).

Fig. 2A is a graph comparing the number of times the grapefruit perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder A).

Fig. 2B is a graph comparing the number of times the grapefruit perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder B).

Fig. 3A is a graph comparing the number of times the jasmine perfumed maraca

was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder A).

Fig. 3B is a graph comparing the number of times the jasmine perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder B).

Fig. 4A is a graph comparing the number of times the peppermint perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder A).

Fig. 4B is a graph comparing the number of times the peppermint perfumed maraca was shaken with the number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in the case of demented elder B).

Fig. 5 shows the evaluation of impressions when perfumed maracas were used and when no-perfumed maracas were used.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in detail.

The perfumes of the invention for improving the behavior of demented elders contain one or more plant-derived essential oils.

The term"demented elders"used herein refers to those elders who have a condition of"dementia"in which mental functions are lowered because of some disease, separate from the physiological aging of mentality resulted from their advanced age. As causes of "Dementia", those described above may be given. However, in the present specification, the term"demented elders"refers to elders who present wide variety of dementia symptoms not limited to those resulted from the above-described causes.

Demented elders have the following disorders: they have bad memory and cannot remember new things (attentiveness disorder); they cannot remember previous experience (amnesia); they cannot calculate (calculation disorder); they cannot make correct judgment (judgment disorder). These disorders cause various failures in daily life. Further, the secondary effect of physical, environmental and mental factors accelerates the peripheral symptoms such as prowl, anxiety, hyperkinesia movement, insomnia, reversion of day and night, coprophilia, mysophilia, etc. These symptoms lead to compulsive suppression of the behavior of demented elders, which worsens the symptoms still further.

In the present specification, the'perfume for improving the behavior of demented elders"refers to a perfume which is used for the purpose of improving the behavior of demented elders. For example, a perfume which activates the behavior of demented elders

whose willingness has been reduced, or a perfume which suppresses the behavior of demented elders whose behavior should be cared for, may be enumerated.

Examples of activating the behavior of demented elders include letting them positively participate in events such as rehabilitation; letting them take positive actions to adapt to daily life; changing passive behavior to positive behavior; letting them act by their own will; etc.

Examples of suppressing the behavior of demented elders include calming down those who has poriomania (make wandering), who are hyperkinetic syndrome (make excessive movement) (i. e. having sleep disorder, anxiety, or fast mood swings) or who are in the state of extreme excitement, to suppress their behavior.

Further, by changing the kind of perfume for each event, it is possible to improve insomnia or the reversion of day and night.

First, in the present invention, one or more plants selected from the group consisting of, for example, cinnamon (Cimzamomunz zevlanicum), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), jasmine (Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum) and peppermint (Mentha piperita var. vulgaris) may be used as the plant raw material.

The plant-derived essential oil used in the invention may be prepared by known methods, for example, the methods disclosed in the"Japanese Patent Office Gazette: Well-Known/Conventional Technologies (Perfumes) Part II : Flavors for Food"published by the Japanese Patent Office in 2000, pp. 7-8 ; or the methods disclosed in"Chemistry of Essential Oils"published by Flagrance Journal Co., 1st ed. , in 2000, pp. 76-86. Specifically, essential oils may be obtained by drying various plant raw materials, cutting them into appropriate size, and then performing known operations such as pressing, solvent extraction, or steam distillation.

For example, when the raw material is cinnamon [Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Lauraceae) ], an essential oil may be obtained by crushing cinnamon bark and subjecting the resultant material to steam distillation. The major cinnamon producing countries are Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Cinnamomum zeylanicum-derived essential oil is believed to be most elegant and excellent. This essential oil is designated"cinnamon Ceylon bark oil" ; which is somewhat different in flavor from cassia oil derived from Cinafnomuni cassia and is discriminated from it in use. The former has an aldehyde content of 55-78%, whereas the latter has an aldehyde content of 80% or more. The thus obtained cinnamon essential oil has a sweet flagrance and a slightly astringent stimulatory taste. As components of this essential oil, cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol and pinene are mainly known.

When the raw material is grapefruit [CitrMs paradise (Rutaceae) ], most of its

essential oil may be obtained simultaneously with its juice. About 650 g of essential oil is obtained from 1 ton of fresh grapefruit on the average. Alternatively, oil may be obtained by pressing grapefruit peel or by distilling peel alone. In addition, when juice is concentrated, recovery flagrance (oil layer: grapefruit essential oil; aqueous layer: grapefruit aroma) may be obtained secondarily.

As components of grapefruit essential oil, d-limonene, nootkatone, octyl aldehyde, decyl aldehyde, citral, geraniol and acetates thereof, are mainly known.

When the raw material is jasmine [JasminuNz ogoinale var. g°andi orum (Oleaceae) ], jasmine flowers are extracted with a solvent such as petroleum ether (mainly hexane) and the resultant concrete (yield: 0.28-0. 33%) are dewaxed with an alcohol such as ethanol, to thereby obtain jasmine oil (jasmine oil, jasmine absolute) in the form of absolute.

As components of the thus obtained essential oil, benzyl acetate, d-linalol, linalyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, jasmone, indole, methyl anthranilate, farnesol, methyl jasmonate, jasmine lactone, benzyl benzoate, phytols, cisjasmone, and jasmonoid are mainly known.

When the raw material is peppermint [Mentha piper var. vulgai- (Labiatae) ], peppermint oil may be obtained by steam distillation of leaves or whole plant. Since oil yield is decreased and oil components are changed after flowering, it is preferable to harvest peppermint on fine days in August or September when blossoms appear. The harvested plant are dried on ground for a few days and then distilled in a semi-dried state. In the United States where peppermint production is the greatest in the world, vehicles containing harvested leaves are brought to field distillery ; then, steam are blown directly into the vehicles that serve as distillation stills.

As components of peppermint essential oil, 1-menthol, menthyl ester, menthone, menthofuran, jasmone, and methyl jasmonate are mainly known.

In the present specification, water, lower alcohol, hydrous lower alcohol, hexane or the like may be used as a solvent for solvent extraction.

In the present specification, the term"lower alcohol"refers to 1-4 alcohol, i. e. methanol, ethanol, propanol or butanol. In particular, ethanol or the like is preferable. As a"hydrous lower alcohol", a lower alcohol whose moisture content is 10-75 % by weight may be used.

Extraction operations are not particularly limited. Although the operation may vary depending of the above plant and the solvent used, usually, extraction is performed by dipping in the solvent at 4-100°C a plant raw material crushed in advance or by agitating the plant material gently in the solvent at 4-100°C. Further, use of a Soxhlet extractor which was well known before the filing of the present application enables efficient extraction

operation. The time period required for extraction is usually about 30 minutes to 12 hours.

A multi-step extraction method which was known before the filing of the present application may also be employed.

In the present invention, when one or more plants selected from the group consisting of grapefruit (Citrus paradis, peppermint (Mentha pipenita var. vulgaris) and jasmine (Jasnçinum offlcinale var. grandiflorun) are used as the plant raw materials, the perfume for improving behavior containing essential oils therefrom may be used as a perfume for activating behavior.

In the present invention, when cinnamon (Cinnanzonzun eeylaricum) is used as the plant raw material, the perfume for improving behavior containing an essential oil therefrom may be used as a perfume for suppressing behavior.

The perfume of the invention for improving the behavior of demented elders may be such a perfume that contains one or more components of plant-derived essential oil isolated by physical or chemical treatment or obtained by a method such as chemical synthesis. Alternatively, such components may be used jointly with a plant-derived essential oil.

Examples of such components include one or more components selected from the group consisting of cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol, pinene, d-limonene, nootkatone, octyl aldehyde, decyl aldehyde, citral, geraniol and acetates thereof, benzyl acetate, d-linalol, linalyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, jasmone, indole, methyl anthranilate, farnesol, methyl jasmonate, jasmine lactone, benzyl benzoate, phytols, cis-jasmone, jasmonoid, 1-menthol, menthyl ester, menthone, menthofuran and jasmone.

In the present invention, when the perfume contains one or more components selected from the group consisting of d-limonene, nootkatone, octyl aldehyde, decyl aldehyde, citral, geraniol and acetates thereof, 1-menthol, menthyl ester, menthone, menthofuran, jasmone, benzyl acetate, d-linalol, linalyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, jasmone, indole, methyl anthranilate, farnesol, methyl jasmonate, jasmine lactone, benzyl benzoate, phytols, cis-jasmone and jasmonoid, that perfume for improving behavior may be used as a perfume for activating behavior.

In the present invention, when the perfume contains one or more components selected from the group consisting of cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol and pinene, that perfume for improving behavior may be used as a perfume for suppressing behavior.

The perfume of the invention for improving behavior may be used alone.

Alternatively, the perfume may be loaded to a product in such a manner that the product emits flagrance whenever demented elders make some action (event).

The product which may be loaded with the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is not particularly limited in kind or form, as long as the perfumed product emits flagrance whenever demented elders make some event. For example, the following products may be enumerated : Musical instruments (percussion instruments such as maracas, fruit shaker, triangle, cymbals, gong, metallophone, xylophone, marimba, castanets, bell, Japanese drum, tambourine, timpani and drum ; string instruments such as violin, viola, cello, contrabass, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, harp and Japanese harp; wind instruments such as oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, tuba, ocarina, flute, piccolo, harmonica and various pipes; keyed instruments such as organ, piano and accordion; various electronic musical instruments ; etc.) Toiletry products (toilet soap, bath soap, transparent soap, etc.) Body washing agents (body shampoo, etc.) Household products (general detergents, liquid detergents, solid detergents, etc.) Sanitary products (towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, wet tissue paper, handkerchiefs, wet towels, etc.) Writing products (pens, crayons, paints, pencils, paper, origami, seals, etc.) Playing products (balls, beanbags, cards, tops, dolls, building blocks, etc.) Sundry products Cosmetics (skin cream, cleansing cream, night cream, hand cream, milky lotion, lotion, after-shave lotion, body lotion, foundation, lip stick, lip cream, manicure, manicure remover, talcum powder, anti-wrinkle cosmetics, anti-aging cosmetics, sun protection products, massage oil, etc.) Hair cosmetics (hair washing agents such as shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse in shampoo and treatment ; hair styling agents such as pomade, hair tonic, hair liquid, hair gel, hair cream and hair mousse; hair growing agents; hair coloring agents; cold wave agents; etc.) Bath agents (powder bath additives, solid bath additives, solid foaming bath additives, bath oils, bubble bath aroma generators, bath salts, etc.) Pharmaceuticals (plasters, ointments, suppositories, tablets, liquid medicines, capsules, granules, etc. ) Foods and drinks (confectioneries consisting of gum, candy, snack such as potato crisps, baked sweets such as cookie and biscuit; drinks including refreshing drinks such as flavored tea, herb tea, juice, soda and powdered drink, fancy drinks such as tea and coffee, and milk drinks ; frozen desserts such as ice cream, sherbet, moose and frozen yogurt; desserts such as custard pudding, jelly, bavarois, yogurt and cream; cooked foods such as

soup, curry and stew; seasonings such as condensed soup for noodles, dressing and mayonnaise; bakery products such as bread and donuts; daily products such as butter cream and margarine ; fish paste products; etc. ) Oral health products (tooth paste, oral wash, etc.) Tobacco Among all, musical instruments are preferable. In particular, key instruments such as organ and piano, and percussion instruments such as xylophone, tambourine, castanets, bell, maracas and fruit shaker are preferable. One of the reasons why these instruments are preferable is that a person who uses a musical instrument makes a sound by moving his/her hand or the like. That is, his/her consciousness and action influence each other in doing so, and no complicated technique is required for making the sound.

In particular, rhythm percussion instruments (sometimes referred to as"rhythm instruments"in the invention) such as bell, maracas and fruit shaker are preferable. One of the reasons why these instruments are preferable is that they can be held by one hand. Even demented elders can hold them easily.

These products are loaded with flagrance by using the perfume of the invention for improving behavior. The method of loading is not particularly limited Various methods may be used. For example, a method in which a porous material (such as paper, non-woven fabric, cotton, silica gel, wood, pumice, shell, sintered metal, calcium silicate, etc.) is impregnated with the perfume of the invention and then placed inside of a product; a method in which the perfume of the invention is prepared into microcapsules or dissolved in a solvent to prepare an ink-like or solution-type material, and then coated on the surface or inside of a product; a method in which the perfume of the invention is mixed with a thermoplastic resin such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin or polyvinylchloride resin and shaped into a film or sheet, which is then placed on the surface or inside of a product ; a method in which the perfume of the invention is kept at a specific part of a product or at a specific site around the product or in a container positioned at a specific part of the product, and the thus kept perfume is allowed to be released only when a stimulation is given from the outside; or a method in which the perfume of the invention is directly sprayed onto the surface of a musical instrument, may be enumerated.

Specific methods of perfume loading will be illustrated below for musical instruments. For key instruments such as organ and piano, a method may be used in which the perfume of the invention is kept in a container positioned below the keyboard or in front of the instrument, and flagrance is emitted by the air pressure, vibration or electric signal

generated when keys are tapped with fingers.

For percussion instruments such as drums, the surface of the instrument which is beaten or the surface of parts of the drumsticks which beat may be coated with a solution, a dispersant or an ink containing the perfume of the invention prepared into microcapsules.

Alternatively, a film or a sheet containing the perfume of the invention may be placed on the surface of the instrument which is beaten or the surface of parts of the drumsticks which beat.

Then, flagrance is generated when the instrument is beaten with drumsticks or the like.

For string instruments, strings are impregnated with a solution containing the perfume of the invention. Then, flagrance is generated by friction or vibration.

For electronic musical instruments, the perfume of the invention may be embedded in the microchip which electronically controls the instrument, and then the perfume-containing site may be stimulated with electronic signals to thereby generate flagrance.

For maracas, the perfume of the invention or a solution containing the perfume of the invention prepared into microcapsules may be sprayed on the surfaces of granules to be contained inside of maracas, and then the thus treated granules may be placed inside of maracas. Alternatively, fairly solid porous granules may be impregnated with the perfume of the invention, and then the resultant perfumed granules may be placed inside of maracas.

If maracas are provided with a long and narrow window or a number of fine holes smaller than the size of the granules, it is more convenient since the perfume of the invention on the surface or inside of those granules is readily volatilized and scattered without dropping of granules out of maracas.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to a product, the perfume loading ratio is preferably a common ratio for loading products with perfume.

Preferably, the intensity of perfume is so small that one cannot recognize what perfume is used. That is, a perfume loading ratio that does not allow discrimination of the kind of perfume is preferable.

Specifically, when the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to musical instruments, writing products, playing products or sundry products, the loading ratio is preferably 0.01 to 50% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 50% by weight.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to cosmetics, hair cosmetics, toiletry products, body washing agents, bath agents, sanitary products or household products, the loading ratio is preferably 0.0001 to 50% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 30% by weight.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to

pharmaceuticals, the loading ratio is preferably 0.00001 to 0.1% by weight, more preferably 0. 001 to 0. 1% by weight.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to oral health products, the loading ratio is preferably 0.00001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to foods and drinks, the loading ratio is preferably 0.00001 to 1% by weight, more preferably 0.0001 to 0. 1% by weight.

When the perfume of the invention for improving behavior is loaded to tobacco, the loading ratio is preferably 0.0001 to 0. 1% by weight, more preferably 0.0001 to 0. 01% by weight.

The thus perfumed products have wide range of use. Specifically, they may be used as daily products or teaching utensils. In particular, they may be used as utensils for improving the mental aspects of aged persons (e. g. enhancing and maintaining their consciousness and volition) and may also be used as utensils for preventing dementia.

Further, they may be used as utensils for enhancing the consciousness and volition of demented elders.

As described above, the present invention encompasses: utensils for improving the mental aspects of demented elders and utensils for preventing dementia, both of which are characterized by using products loaded with the perfume of the invention for improving behavior.

Further, the present invention encompasses: a method of improving the volition and consciousness of demented elders, characterizing in using the perfumed product described above; a method of improving the behavior of demented elders, characterizing in using the perfumed product described above; a method of activating the behavior of demented elders, characterizing in using the perfumed product described above; and a method of suppressing the behavior of demented elders, characterizing in using the perfumed product described above.

EXAMPLES Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Example and Application Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

[EXAMPLE 1] (1) Preparation of Cinnamon Essential Oil Cinnamon (Cinnamomun7 zeylazicunz) bark was steam distilled to thereby obtain cinnamon essential oil as Ceylon bark oil.

(2) Preparation of Grapefruit Essential Oil Grapefruit (Cit°us paradisi) peel was pressed, and the oil was recovered. Thus, grapefruit cold press oil was obtained.

(3) Preparation of Jasmine Essential Oil Jasmine (Jasminum officinale var. grandi7forun1) flowers were extracted with hexane, and the oil was recovered. The resultant concrete was treated with ethanol to thereby obtain jasmine oil as an absolute (jasmine absolute).

(4) Preparation of Peppermint Essential Oil Whole plants of peppermint (Mentha piperita var. vulgaris) were steam distilled, and the oil was recovered to thereby obtain peppermint oil.

(5) Preparation of Perfumed Musical Instruments Wooden maracas were purchased, and the small beads contained inside thereof were removed. Subsequently, the cinnamon essential oil prepared in (1) above were dissolved in middle chain triglyceride (MCT) to give a 20% by weight solution. Fluorite (calcium silicate) granules of about 2 mm diameter were impregnated with the resultant solution at a weight ratio of 1: 1. One gram of this fluorite was placed inside of each maraca to thereby prepare perfumed musical instruments. The volume of fluorite granules was adjusted so that it was the same as the volume of the removed beads. Also, a number of holes were provided on the surface of each maraca with a gimlet.

In the same manner, the following maracas were prepared: maracas loaded with fluorite granules impregnated at a weight ratio of 1: 1 with a 50% by weight solution of the grapefruit essential oil from (2) above in MCT; maracas loaded with fluorite granules impregnated at a weight ratio of 1: 1 with a 5% by weight solution of the jasmine essential oil from (3) above in MCT ; and maracas loaded with fluorite granules impregnated at a weight ratio of 1: 1 with a 10% by weight solution of the peppermint essential oil from (4) above in MCT.

(6) Preparation of Musical Instrument not Loaded with Perfume Wooden maracas identical with the maracas in (5) above were purchased, and the small beads contained inside thereof were removed. Subsequently, fluorite granules which were the same as used in (5) but not impregnated with perfume were placed inside of the

maracas. The amount of the fluorite granules is the same as in (5).

[APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1: Evaluation of the Number of Times] How to use maracas was explained to lightly demented elders (n=10). Then, the cinnamon flagrance-loaded maraca prepared in Example 1 was given to each of the participants. They were persuaded to play with a song"ANTAGATA DOKOSA" (9 minutes). Subsequently, the maraca prepared in Comparative Example 1 was given to each of them, and they were persuaded to play with the same song. Two elders (A and B) were selected at random from the demented elders, and the behavior of shaking non-perfumed maraca and the behavior of shaking perfumed maraca were recorded on videotape.

While playing back the videotape, the number of times the demented elders A and B shook the perfumed maraca and the number of times they shook the non-perfume-loaded maraca were counted in every 30 seconds. The results are shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B.

In order to show the effect of perfumed maracas more clearly, a graph was provided in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B which compares the average number of times the non-perfumed maraca was shaken (in every 30 seconds) and the actual number of times the perfumed maraca was shaken in every 30 seconds.

After one or more days, the above-described experiment was performed using maracas loaded with the grapefruit essential oil prepared in Example 1 (the music of"radio gymnastic exercises"was used for 1 minutes, and the shaking was counted in every 10 seconds); maracas loaded with the jasmine essential oil prepared in Example 1 ("the song of the facility"was used for 3 minutes) ; and maracas loaded with the peppermint essential oil prepared in Example 1 (the music of"ITOMAKI"was used for 3.5 minutes). The results are shown in Figs. 2 to 4.

The results of evaluation of the number of times revealed that the number increased when the perfume of peppermint, grapefruit or jasmine was loaded to the instrument, indicating that these perfumes have an effect of activating behavior. On the other hand, when the perfume of cinnamon was loaded to the instrument, the number of times shaking decreased, indicating that this perfume has an effect of suppressing behavior.

[APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2: Evaluation of Impression] For each of the videotapes recorded in Application Example 1, the behavior with a non-perfumed instrument and the behavior with a perfumed instrument were edited to approximately 1 minute (the first 1 minute), respectively. The edited videotape was played back, first the image with the non-perfumed instrument and then the image with the

perfumed instrument. Two elders (A and B) were selected at random from the demented elders, and their expressions were evaluated from the entire group of the demented elders. The evaluation was performed by 10 persons following the evaluation items described below.

Whether the maraca was loaded with perfume or not in each videotape was unknown to the 10 persons who made the evaluation.

The evaluation items for expressions are as follows.

1. enjoying; 2. amused; 3. excited; 4. being interested in; 5. being pleased; 6. aggressive; 7. active; 8. concentrating.

These 8 items were rated in 7 grades. Briefly, the evaluation was made by judging whether he/she felt that the non-perfumed instrument should have been used (+) or that the perfumed instrument should have been used (-). The grade"+3"was given if he/she judged that it was very appropriate for the case when a non-perfumed instrument was used. The grade"-3"was given if he/she judged that it was very appropriate for the case when a perfumed instrument was used. The results of impression evaluation for individual perfumes are given in Tables 1 to 4 and shown in a graph in Fig. 5.

Table 1. (Cinnamon) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 st erson 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2nd person 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3rd person-1 0-1 1 0 0 0 0 4th person 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5th person 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 6th person 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 7tliperson 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 8th erson-1-1-2 1-1-1-1 2 9th person-1-2-2-1 2 1 3 1 10th person 0 0-1 0-2-2 2 0 Total 6 4 3 7 6 8 13 9 Average 0.6 0.4 0. 3 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.9 Table 2. (Grapefruit) os 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Istperson-1 0 0 0-1-1 0 0 2nd erson 0 0 1 0 0 0 1-1 3rd erson 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 1 4th person 0-1 0 0 0 0-1-1 5thperson-3-2-3 0-3-2-3 0 6th person -2 -2 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 7th erson-2-1-2-1-3-3-3-2 8th person 0 0 0 0 0-1-1 0 9th person 0-1-1 0 0-1-1 0 lOth person-1-1-1-2-1-2-2 0 Total-8-7-5-3-8-9-9-5 Average -0.8 -0.7 -0.5 -0.3 -0.8 -0.9 -0.9 -0. 5 Table 3. (Jasmine) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 st person 0 0 0 0-1 0-1-1 2nd person 0 0 0 0-1 0-1 0 3rd erson-1 0-1 1 0-2-1 0 4th person 0 0 0 0-1 0-1-2 5th person 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 0 6th erson-2-2-2-1-1-2-3-2 7th person-1-1-2 0-1-1-2 0 8th person-1 0 0 0 0-1 0 0 9th person-1 0-1-1 0-1-1 0 lOth person-1 0-1-1-1-1-1 0 Total-5-1-7 0-4-6-9-5 Average-0. 5-0. 1-0. 7 0-0.4-0. 6-0.9-0. 5 5 Table 4. (Peppermint) 1 2 3 4 1 5 6 7 8 1st person -3 -2 -2 -3 -2 -1 -1 -1 2nd erson -3 -2 -2 -1 -2 -3 -3 -2 3rd erson -1 0 0 -2 -1 -2 -2 -1 4th erson -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 5th erson -2 0 -2 0 -1 -1 -2 -1 6th person-1 0 0-1 0-2-2-2 7th person-1-1-1-1-1-2-1 8th erson -1 -1 0 0 0 -2 -2 -1 9th erson 0 0 -1 -2 -1 -3 -3 -2 10th person -2 -1 0 -1 0 -2 -3 -1 Total-15-8-9-12-9-18-20-12 Average -1.5 -0.8 -0. 9-1. 2 -0.9 -1.8 -2 -1.2 From Fig. 5, it is shown that cinnamon also has a suppressing effect on emotion.

On the other hand, it was shown that jasmine, peppermint and grapefruit also have an activating effect on emotion.