The World's Favorite Scent Is Vanilla, According to Science (2024)
The sweet and nutty scent of vanillin, the main component in vanilla extract, appears to be the world's favorite scent, according to a new study published this week inCurrent Biology.
From a list of ten unique scents, survey respondents from a variety of cultural backgroundsall ranked vanilla the most pleasant, reports Peter Dockrill forScience Alert. Researchers suggest there may be an evolutionary basis for the universalaroma preference, reports Peter Dockrill forScience Alert.
"Cultures around the world rank different odours in a similar way no matter where they come from, but odour preferences have a personal – although not cultural – component," says study author Artin Arshamian, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, in astatement.
The team wanted to determine whethersmell perception was consistent worldwide or if people culturally learned their scent preferences. For the investigation, scientists asked 225 individuals from ten distinct cultural groups, including city dwellers, indigenous hunter-gatherers, and people from traditional rural farming and fishing communities.
Study participants were pooled from urban areas in the United States, Mexico andThailand, reports Joe Pinkstone for theTelegraph. Hunter-gather groups from the southeast Asian rainforest, such as the Semaq Beri people from the Malay Peninsula in Thailand, and fishing communities from Central America's Pacific coast, were also involved in the research, reportsScience Alert.
Participants were asked to sniff vials containingten scents, presented in random order. Then, they were asked to rankeach vialfrom most pleasant to least pleasant. Scent vials were transported to isolated regions by field scientists so that the team could get data from those with little to no prior exposure to Western smells, per theTelegraph.
The team found the smell ranked the most pleasant was vanillin, the main component in vanilla extract. The following preferred scent wasethyl butyrate, a fruity, pineapple-like odor. , The chemical compoundLinalool's floral and spicy scent—found in over 200 plantsincluding lavender—ranked third.
The least popular scent wasisovaleric acid, a compound with a penetrating, pungent odor common in cheese, soy milk, and sweaty feet,Science Alertreports. Trends for rating the scents in this order were consistent in all tested locations, per theTelegraph.
When analyzing the data, scientists found that the influence of cultural background only plays a small part in odor preference. Culture was linked to six percent of the variance, while eachscents' molecular influenced 40 percent of the selections. While individuals may rank smells in slightly different orders, the variation is based on personal preferences, not culture. Personal preference accounted for 54 percent of people's choices. Overall, there are similarities across cultures regarding what smells a personlikes or dislikes.
These cross-cultural preferences for certain scents could have roots in human evolution, which would require additional research to determine. It's possible knowledge of somescents increased chances of survival at some point in history, a statement explains.
"Now we know that there's universal odor perception that is driven by molecular structure, and that explains why we like or dislike a certain smell," Arshamian saysin a statement. "The next step is to study why this is so by linking this knowledge to what happens in the brain when we smell a particular odor."
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Elizabeth Gamillo is a daily correspondent forSmithsonian and a science journalist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has written for Science magazine as their 2018 AAAS Diverse Voices in Science Journalism Intern.
A new study finds that this smell is universally adored. LONDON (KABC
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) -- Researchers at Oxford have found that the scent of vanilla is loved across the globe despite cultural differences. Vanilla seems to have the most pleasing scent in the world, according to the new study.
From a list of ten unique scents, survey respondents from a variety of cultural backgrounds all ranked vanilla the most pleasant, reports Peter Dockrill for Science Alert.
Familiarity: Both vanilla and cinnamon are commonly used in baking and cooking, making them familiar and comforting scents to many. Positive Associations: These scents often evoke memories of warm, home-cooked meals, holidays, and special occasions, leading to a sense of nostalgia.
This individual is quietly confident, and just a bit mysterious - one who prefers relaxed downtime over being in the spotlight. Numerous studies have found vanilla to contain an aromatherapy property to reduce stress, making it the perfect relaxing scent.
In a 2022 study, a vanilla derivative was deemed the world's most pleasant smell when people from distinct cultural groups—including members of rural and Indigenous communities—were asked to rank 10 aromas.
Vanilla has been used as a natural aphrodisiac for centuries. That is why it is of no surprise that it is one of the scents that men find attractive in women. The reason for it, according to Dr. Hirsch: “Sweet and tasty scents are familiar.
Having the same percentage of 19.4, woodsy and musk are without a doubt the top main accords that men find attractive when worn. The 3rd place goes to vanilla-scented fragrances with 17.3%, 4th place for sweet scents with 15.3%, and 5th place for floral ones with 14.3%.
Vanilla produces the feeling of happiness universally. In the smell report of SIRC, soft, almost sweet, seductive, and sensual, vanilla is a scent that human beings always find pleasant.
Vanilla's reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac endures, and it's often present in 'sexy', come-hither fragrances, especially Ambrées and gourmand fragrances, as well as 'girly', 'younger' creations. And it's probably one of the most easily-recognised perfume ingredients of all…
When it comes to recipes and cooking, vanilla is considered the most. The major reason behind this is, it is a universal flavor and is loved by almost all. From cookies to cakes, desserts to slices, sauces to drinks, and even savory meals, vanilla flavor is used in many things.
Vanilla fragrances are suitable to be worn by both men and women. Although vanilla is rarely used on its own in perfumery and the world of beauty, it may nevertheless be used in a variety of ways and layering is one of them.
As mentioned above, the smell of lavender mixed with pumpkin pie was shown to increase arousal in men by 40 percent. However, lavender can stand on its own — the flower's scent has been proven to relax and arouse at the same time, which is a wonderful way to set the mood.
Vanilla always ranks high in the game of seduction thanks to its aphrodisiac-like qualities that capture a man's attention. Musk's second-skin aroma, with a seductive woody and earthy scent, is another alluring essential… and you can never go wrong with sandalwood, known to stimulate desire.
They found that certain people's genes make men's sweat smell sweet, like vanilla. This research isn't a sign to start going out without showering because some women will like the sweet smell.
Vanilla was considered the most pleasant scent across cultures, followed by peachy/pineapple-y ethyl butyrate. The smell ranked the least pleasant was isovaleric acid, which is found in cheese, soy milk, apple juice, and foot sweat.
Scents that humans are particularly attuned to include chemical components in bananas, flowers, blood and sometimes pee. In 2013, Laska and colleagues tested the abilities of humans, mice and spider monkeys to detect urine odors found in common mouse predators.
Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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