The Science of Scent

What difficulties do people with asthma report with fragranced products?

A US online survey asked people who self-reported asthma or an asthma-like condition about symptoms and everyday difficulties associated with fragranced products. Here is what the survey can, and cannot, tell us.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Can You Ask AI to Make a Scent More Floral?

An AI used essential-oil data to search for scent formulas. Human tests supported adding floral character, but success varied across odor features.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Can AI Predict a Scent Without Smelling It?

A Principal Odor Map predicts odor descriptions from molecular structure. Human testing reveals its strengths and limits for unfamiliar molecules.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Could Nasal Mucus Help Explain Age-Related Changes in Smell?

A proteomic study identified 2,987 proteins across 24 participants and explored differences by nasal location, age, and olfactory sensitivity.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Which Molecular “Scissors” Turn Odorless Sweat Precursors into Body Odor?

PepV removes glycine from an odorless precursor before PatB releases 3M3SH. Laboratory findings clarify a pathway, not a tested deodorant.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

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

Does Odor Perception Differ by Region?

A study of 909 people in 16 regions examined odor perception across 12 dimensions. Region was more strongly associated with intensity ratings than pleasantness. We explore what the roughly 10% explained by region means and why it cannot be generalized to national preferences.

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