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The Science of Scent

Does Deodorant Make Body-Odor Similarity Harder to Detect?

Raters judged unfragranced odors from actual couples more similar than recombined pairs, but the overall couple-level analysis was not significant. The study also explored contraception and relationship satisfaction.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Foot Odor Does Not Come from Sweat Alone

A laboratory study linked foot callus, bacterial enzymes, and staphylococcal metabolism to isovaleric-acid production, while showing that other bacteria can consume odor compounds.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Cheese or Vomit? How Names Change the Way Odors Are Perceived

Three studies explore how odor labels alter pleasantness, brain responses, sniffing, and some physiological measures, while revealing important differences between experiments.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Can a Different Shampoo Fragrance Change How It Feels?

Home-use trials of shampoos with identical bases found fragrance-related differences mainly in the feel of the neat product and during washing. Results after multiple-testing correction were more limited for wet and dry hair.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Women’s Underarm Odor: Is It Related to Hair-Removal Frequency?

A study of Japanese women found no clear odor-intensity differences by shaving frequency or hair-removal history, but found an association with transepidermal water loss.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Does Stress Sweat Smell the Same as Exercise Sweat?

Sweat from the same men smelled stronger during stress despite a smaller collected quantity. Separate trials tested three unperfumed antiperspirants 48 hours after their final application.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Do Different Toilet Fragrances Reduce Unpleasantness Differently?

A residential toilet study compared floral and herbal air freshener/deodorizers against simulated fecal odor, measuring unpleasantness and acceptability over time.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Tracing Lingering Urine Odor in a Care Facility to Its Sources

Researchers combined smell assessments, p-cresol measurements, and bacterial tests to locate urine-odor sources and track a year of targeted cleaning at one care facility.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Which Receptors Detect the Characteristic Smell of Grapefruit?

Improved cultured-cell assays revealed receptors for grapefruit and other signature odorants. Ambrox stereoisomers also showed why more than one receptor can matter.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
The Science of Scent

Does Coloring White Wine Red Change Its Aroma Vocabulary?

Professional wine reviews and an experiment with 54 enology students revealed connections between visible color and the words used to describe aromas.
2026.11.03
The Science of Scent
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