Many people find it impossible to start the day without a jolt of joe, a steamy cup of coffee loaded with caffeine and designed to kickstart even the most sluggish of “I’m not a morning person” people.

Get a load of this: Some scientists are saying that just a whiff of coffee could be enough to ease the usual stresses you plow through — stresses that usually require two or three cups of the black gold to neutralize.

There’s something about the aroma of roasted coffee beans that soothes the brain, researchers said.

“Coffee smells do change the brain to some degree, and it behooves us to understand why that is happening,” says the director of the Institute of Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University.

The findings open doors to a lot of speculation about the positive impact that coffee aromas can have, but there’s still a lot of research to be done.

Previous research has indicated coffee consumption can reduce depression, suicide risk and relieve stress, to a certain extent. But these studies were based on the presence of caffeine in coffee.

This time around, it’s strictly aroma. The quickest way for something to get into the human bloodstream is through smell. This might also explain why so many people — even non-coffee drinkers — love the aroma of freshly-ground brew.

A note of caution: Researchers suggest you hold back on channeling coffee aroma into your office’s heat/air system to help calm workers. More probing is required.

Still, the news is certainly enough to make you perk up.

Tags: coffee, stress