Odorous stimuli were used for the investigation of emotional sphere in three samples: healthy persons, depressive patients and hypomaniacal ones. A new method of emotional state testing by verbal and non-verbal assessment of odours is presented. The main parameters of odorous stimuli (pleasantness, intensity) were analysed as well as odour-determinant (verbal or non-verbal) association. Experimental data for healthy persons and those for depressive and hypomaniacal ones were significantly different. Differencies in odour intensity assessment by men and women also were statistically relevant. The peculiarities of odours as emotional stimuli are described.