Flowers and the Feelings they Evoke
Flowers and feelings are undeniably intertwined. We all know that feeling of joy upon receiving a bouquet – but did you know that effect has been researched and verified with empirical studies? With all the reasons there are to send someone flowers, the response is universal. Even on less than joyous occasions, flowers uplift us and improve our mood.
Beyond their mood-elevating aesthetic, flowers have a fascinating emotional history dating back to the most ancient cultures. Floriography is an intricate floral language in which a bouquet can speak volumes. Certain elements of floriography remain relevant in contemporary culture, so a little knowledge about flowers and feelings shows unexpected attention to detail when sending your message with a bouquet.
What’s behind the emotional impact of flowers, and what feelings are they most likely to convey? This look through past and current flower-giving trends will make all the occasions in the year ahead a breeze, with flowers to send the right feel-good vibe for each one, anticipated or not!
Surprising Research Results
It’s pretty common wisdom that receiving flowers makes us feel good. But even researchers were surprised when they looked at the data – every study participant displayed and experienced a positive mood change upon receiving flowers, compared to similar gifts, such as a candle or gift basket. That’s 100%, a rare occurrence in scientific research.
The ten-month study recorded responses to the delivery of a gift, presented by a courier as a thank you gift. The recipients weren’t expecting the delivery, so they couldn’t know whether to expect flowers or another gift item. The couriers were actually trained observers, who recorded each response, and notably, the Duchenne smile was evoked with every single flower delivery.
What’s the significance of this? First, the Duchenne smile is critical. It’s the authentic facial expression that psychologists call “the sole indicator of true enjoyment”. So the genuine smile was a big deal in the emotions lab, and the fact that it was 100% consistent in this case is an even bigger one. For the head researcher, this was proof of what we’ve known all along: flowers have the power to actually make us feel good!
But we send flowers for all kinds of reasons, so let’s take a closer look at why, and what feelings we hope to evoke when choosing a bouquet.
Romance
From courtship to commitment, flowers fuel romance. The hope of young love means corsages and first-date bouquets. Birthdays, anniversaries, and romantic holidays all feature flowers between significant others. And of course, the most romantic of days, the day we say “I do”, is filled with joyous blooms to get everyone in the mood!
If you need proof of the power of flowers, look around the next wedding or commitment ceremony you attend. The mood is always electric with romance, and the warmth of goodwill toward those in love. Now that we know the science, we think that’s no accident.
To set the right romantic mood with flowers, just consider two simple things: color and size. You’ll know when to be subtle yet enchanting, and when to max out the fairy tale effect. The colors for big romance are passionate shades of red, pink and purple. Think traditional roses, or something unexpected, like freesias or wildflowers.
Celebration
We’re heading into wedding season, so of course, we’re back to visions of lush bouquets and centerpieces brightening the mood. Besides weddings, though, think of how many ways we celebrate each other, and how often we instinctively incorporate flowers as an essential part of the celebration. We’re thinking of all the graduations coming up, and anniversaries of all sorts.
How about the personal victories, the more individual celebrations? If flowers enhance the positive feelings we have, it makes sense to punctuate success with a vibrant bouquet. It’s a proven and effective method of self-care, fusing the positive feelings of happiness and confidence evoked by both the flowers and the milestone of personal success.
Appreciation
In the scientific study, the subjects received deliveries identified as thank you gifts, so the 100% positive response tells us just how much it means when we show appreciation with flowers. Life seems to get busier every day, and we all know how much it means when someone sees and appreciates our part in it. Whether we’re aware of it in the moment or not, we’re all helping each other along in some way.
Look around and notice the person you wouldn’t have snagged the account without, the team member whose extra effort made the difference. We all have a coworker, friend, or family member who is just there for all of it. Think of the genuine Duchenne smile, and the deep sense of being valued they’ll feel when you send a bouquet of warm, softly-hued flowers that say, “thanks for being you”.
Comfort
We’ve all been there. Things happen in life that get you down. The loss of a loved one, human or animal, illness, or any life change can affect how we feel temporarily, or sometimes longer. It’s common to send flowers when someone is seriously injured or ill, or when there is a death. But what about the less-acknowledged losses and letdowns?
Lately, it’s easy to get caught up in the difficulties and setbacks in life, and harder to stay in a positive mood. It sure makes it easier to get over the disappointment of a missed opportunity with a hopeful bouquet or plant in soothing blue and white, encouraging you to try again. The feel-good effect of comforting flowers can’t be underestimated and is something to share with loved ones of all ages. See how the man, teen, or child who’s a big deal to you opens up when they receive a heartfelt gift of flowers!
Floriography
There’s so much natural symbolism in flowers, it’s no surprise there’s a floral language dating back centuries. Historically connected to the Victorian Era, floriography took flower symbolism, a custom all over the world for thousands of years, to the level of secret, formal communication. With a well-crafted bouquet, a person could express love, comfort, or devotion, or darker sentiments like disdain, contempt, jealousy, or insult!
To infuse some old-fashioned floriography into your bouquet, you might consider daisies and lilacs for a young person, as they symbolize youth and innocence, or zinnias for your own special person, as they mean everlasting friendship. To thank someone for a wonderful time or a lovely gift, send a message with sweet peas. A little floriography knowledge will take your flower-giving game to the next level!
Keep the Mood Alive with Flowers from The Bouqs
It’s clear that flowers have undeniable power to strengthen our positive feelings in every stage of our lives. That deep sense of happiness is more valuable now than ever, and how simple it is to share! We’ve made it even simpler at The Bouqs Co. with our flower subscription service, offering discounts, free delivery, flexibility, and of course the longest-lasting blooms! We’re here to help you keep the good vibes going with mood-lifting flowers for the valued folks in your life!
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