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Can AI Predict Odor Strength from Molecular Structure?

A 2026 study predicted odor strength from molecular structure. AI trained on 2,393 molecules in four categories, odorless, low, medium, and high, achieved 72% agreement in testing. We examine its predictive clues and limitations concerning concentration and perfume applications.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Are Feminine and Masculine Smells Determined by Molecules?

At a museum, 2,716 people evaluated two compounds involved in sweat odor. Differences in perceived femininity and masculinity were very small, and pleasantness was also associated with the ratings. We explore the relationship between molecules and impressions.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

More Than “Stinky”: 25 Words for Describing Body Odor

How can we describe body odor beyond liking or disliking it? We introduce a 25-word list developed from a survey across 17 countries and regions in 13 languages, and its validation using real odor samples.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

How Did Clary Sage Acquire the Ability to Make a Fragrance Raw Material?

How did clary sage acquire the ability to produce sclareol, a starting material for fragrance manufacturing? A 2026 study traces gene duplication, changes at six positions in an enzyme, and regulation of genes active in floral glandular trichomes.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Does a Self-Selected Perfume Suit Your Body Odor?

Does perfume uniformly mask body odor? Three experiments from 2012 explore the combination of fragrance and body odor, and what choosing a perfume for yourself might mean.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Can Meeting and Talking Change the Impression We Form from Someone’s Scent?

How does the impression of a person formed from the same smell change before and after meeting them? A study uses worn T-shirts containing everyday fragrances and odors, alongside four-minute conversations.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

How Do Breathing and Heart Rate Change with a Scent You Like?

What happens to breathing and heart rate when you smell a scent you like? A 30-person experiment helps distinguish physiological measurements, brain activity, and the relaxation people actually feel.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Does Knowing the Brand First Change How We Rate a Perfume?

A 2020 study changed when shoppers learned a perfume’s brand name. It explores how evaluations of smelling a fragrance relate to brand familiarity and engagement with the task.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Do Coffee Beans Reset Your Nose Between Perfumes?

A 2011 experiment examines the habit of smelling coffee beans between perfumes. Identifying a new fragrance and recovering from olfactory fatigue need to be considered separately.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Can Music Change How We Perceive Perfume?

Can music composed for a brand’s fresh image also change impressions of its perfume? A 2024 study follows how blue, coldness, lightness, and “freshness” do not necessarily move together.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent