How does luxury affect your body and mind?

Have you ever wondered why luxury feels so fantastic? Why even the smallest treat can prove irresistible, and the biggest indulgences – like driving an all-new Lexus NX, dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, or staying at a five-star hotel – are so life-affirming?

Here, three experts explain how luxurious experiences affect your body and mind: from boosting your brain power and busting stress, to aiding your mental wellbeing, motivation and even digestion. A must-read for everyone who loves the finer things in life…

Luxury

What does luxury do to your brain?

When you experience something luxurious, your brain responds by releasing ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters, such as endorphins and dopamine, which give you that strong buzz of enjoyment. “Depending upon your attachment to the brand or product, you’ll get a feeling of extreme pleasure and a natural high,” explains Paul Russell, a behavioural psychologist and managing director of luxury training company, Luxury Academy. “Different experiences can trigger different chemicals: for example, eating chocolate triggers dopamine and endorphins, while experiencing a luxurious car releases both adrenaline and dopamine.”

Dopamine is the reward centre of the brain, improving mood, motivation and pleasure. It is known as a ‘happy chemical’, released during activities that we find enjoyable, which encourages us to repeat these behaviours.

Alongside the sensory aspects of the experience, the wider context is also powerful: “As well as the increase in self-esteem that luxury can offer, we can benefit from the neurotransmitters associated with belonging to an exclusive group,” says Lee Chambers, an environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant. “Also, when we are surrounded by opulence, there may be a heightened sense of enjoyment, and this can make us happier and raise our serotonin levels.” Serotonin is another mood-booster, which aids the function of the brain and nervous system, improving everything from sleep to digestion.

How does luxury affect our bodies?

Those feel-good neurotransmitters have a profound influence on your body, affecting your posture, breathing and more. “When experiencing luxury, we are initially likely to have physiological reactions associated with excitement: our heart rate will increase and we may experience dilated pupils,” explains Dr Charlotte Russell, clinical psychologist and founder of The Travel Psychologist. Your eyes may also widen and your eyebrows raise, while your body posture may be stronger and more assured, indicating increased confidence and positivity.

With your senses heightened, you may also become more aware of your surroundings, noticing small details such as the smoothness of a steering wheel, or the perfume of a designer shop.

This physiological reaction can be intense, but as the experience continues, our strong initial reaction evolves into something more soothing. “Once we are settled into enjoying the experience, we will have physiological changes associated with relaxation and contentment,” says Charlotte. “Our breathing and heart rate will slow, and tension in our body will reduce.”

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Why does luxury elicit such a powerful reaction?

The impact of luxury lies in its ability to engage several of your senses at a time – whether sound, taste, touch, smell or sight. Our reaction and associations can be long-lasting: just think of the instant allure of that ‘new car smell’, and the memories and feelings it can elicit. “The mere association of smelling something can engage the brain’s pleasure centres,” explains Paul; “both smell and touch can trigger a chemical release, but smell is the more powerful.”

Small details play a key role too, helping to ‘set the scene’ for a luxurious experience, while also heightening the psychological and physiological response. For example, being offered champagne while checking into a five-star hotel, or a fluffy bathrobe and slippers at an exclusive spa. In Lexus showrooms worldwide, the Japanese art of omotenashi – elevated hospitality – is integral to the service, with each customer treated as a valued guest. From providing refreshments to accomplishing incredible feats in the name of customer satisfaction, this is superlative service at its finest – and all part of the luxurious experience.

Can luxury improve your mental wellbeing?

In the short term, a luxurious experience can increase emotions such as pride, relaxation and contentment – and whilst these feelings are temporary, they can help us to achieve balance in our everyday lives. “Pleasurable things allow us to better manage the challenges of life,” explains Charlotte; “it is important for our wellbeing to have aspects that provide us with a sense of joy and meaning. For some people, owning a luxury car does just that.”

Because of course, luxury is entirely subjective: what is revered by one person can be meaningless to another. Whether we value watches, wines, or wardrobes full of designer clothes, our idea of indulgence is shaped by cultural symbolism, societal norms and personal preferences. “Nevertheless, many such items are united by a focus on craftsmanship, rare materials and rich textures – qualities which humans appreciated long before the concept of luxury was created,” says Lee.

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Does our reaction to luxury change over time?

“As humans, we tend to adapt to pleasurable and luxurious experiences, and their effect can reduce over time,” says Charlotte. “However, if we are able to continually appreciate where we do have luxury in our lives, then this can be very beneficial for our wellbeing. For example, people who regularly spend time looking after their car would be more likely to appreciate it, and continually derive joy and meaning from this.”

The pleasure of driving a new car eventually becomes natural to us, but that doesn’t necessarily diminish its psychological benefits, says Paul. “If you catch its ‘new car’ smell, or spend time polishing the leather interior that so attracted you to it in the first place, this will be enough to trigger the brain’s pleasure centres and cause that physical/psychological response to return, if only for a split second.”

And just like that, our enjoyment continues – and those feel-good neurotransmitters keep boosting our brain, body and wellbeing.

15 comments

  1. It’s a pleasure these days to jump into my Lexus to go on short journeys even going to my local supermarket is a pleasure these days

  2. I bought my Lexus last July and I believe that it is the best car I have ever owned. It is the most comfortable and reliabe to drive whist being both eco aware and economical. My wife and I both love this car, we are so pleased that we bought it. Thank you for delivering such an outstanding car.

    1. Hello Lloyd,
      Thank you very much for your kind words.
      What Lexus are you currently driving?
      Thanks.

  3. Been a year since i bought my Lexus CT, absolutely love it. Best car i have ever had very comfortable, beautiful and pure luxury.
    Wasted years driving other cars until i went to Lexus. Looking forward to try other Lexus models in future. Thank you Lexus, great cars, great customer service.

    1. Hello Mick,
      Thank you very much for your kind words.
      We wish you many more happy miles in your CT.
      Thanks.

  4. I’ve owned a Lexus for a decade and the luxury of owning and driving a Lexus is a filip to my mood, especially in the long dark days of winter. My passengers appreciate the ease too.

    1. Hello Ann,
      Thank you for your continued commitment to Lexus.
      We are glad to hear that you and your passengers are enjoying the luxury of the car.
      Which Lexus do you currently own?
      Many thanks.

  5. Have had my pre owned 66 lexus for a year still feels like a new car pleasure to drive long or short journeys it never stops giving great car

    1. Hello Christopher,
      Thank you very much for your kind feedback.
      We wish you many more happy miles.
      Thanks.

  6. We are awaiting our 4th NX which we are really looking forward to getting into and experience the 450h in all its traits.
    this will be our 10th Lexus since the launch of the IS200 and all have been a pleasure to drive around the country in comfort.

    1. Hello Jeremy,
      Thank you very much for your order and commitment to Lexus.
      We are glad to hear about your positive experiences with our cars.
      We wish you many happy miles in your new NX!
      Many thanks.

  7. I certainly relate to your article: How does luxury affect your body and mind? As an architect, our innovative work with Berlin based specialists Psych.Raum in the field of mental health design has touched on all these aspects. We apply “architectural milieu” to promote “active atmospheres” to assist the recovery processes by carefully creating “quality” non-institutionalised environments that have the same positive effect on wellbeing your article suggests. I like the link between the two as I also happen to drive a RX450h. An easy choice from an edgy architectural design perspective, an environment perspective and from an atmosphere perspective. As a brand, Lexus does truly deliver in all these aspects.
    ps – It’s also super practical – about to load the RX up with surfboards for a week in Cornwall – wellbeing on the road and then in the water – what more could you want!

    1. Good afternoon Craig.

      We’re pleased you enjoyed this article.

      Have a lovely holiday, great to hear the Lexus RX will be getting you there in luxury.

      Thank you for your kind words.

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