The Science of Scent

A participatory breeding study found that both low- and high-geosmin beets were liked. Farmers, chefs, and consumers helped develop five new cultivars.

The gap between a toilet seat and the body, changes just after excretion, and emissions between uses: a study tested three ammonia-source methods for evaluating deodorizing performance.

With induction, odor spread from the kitchen; with gas, it reached the living area quickly. A study tracked changes in one open-plan room while developing an assessment method accounting for olfactory adaptation.

The sole had more bacteria than the top of the foot, with differences in community composition and odor compounds. The study combined culture, DNA analysis, and volatile-compound measurement.

The same people used two toothpastes for one week each. A trial compared hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan the following morning and after brushing.

An industry study mapped bacteria in household toilets and tested growth inhibition on fabrics and flooring exposed to volatile ingredients. We distinguish measured bacterial counts and adsorption from the intended deodorizing effect.

In a survey of 2,000 US consumers, more respondents selected a clean smell than a clean appearance as a cue to finished laundry. The paper considers household-product scent through function, experience, and emotion.