Fascinating Odour Facts

From time to time, we all crave a bit of lighthearted diversion. Luckily, our team of odour specialists at Silsoe Odours are on hand to help with just that.

Here we present nine fascinating facts about odour and odour detection.

When you’re finished, be honest… how many did you already know?

And if you enjoy this, you might also like a deeper dive into how we actually measure odour scientifically using olfactometry.

So, Let’s Go!

#1 Anosmia

Sensitive cells in your nose detect different smells and also help you distinguish flavours. So, without smell, you wouldn’t be able to taste much either.

Loss of smell is called anosmia.

If you’re affected or want to learn more, the charity SmellTaste is a useful resource.

#2 Odour Tolerance

Humans have a surprisingly high tolerance to odour, which means you’ll probably stop noticing a new smell really quickly. If you get on a plane, you may be uncomfortably aware of the smell of everyone around you. By the time you get off, you won’t notice it! The same goes in a coffee shop or bakery.

This adaptation effect is important when carrying out odour monitoring and nuisance assessments. It can influence how people report and assess odour complaints. 

#3 The Scent of Emotion

Smell is strongly linked to emotions and memories. This is due to the close link between the olfactory system and the brain’s emotional centres.

For example, a whiff of cut grass may trigger childhood memories of summer.

One of the most powerful smells for triggering nostalgia is crayons.

Which smells take you back?

#4 Selling Scents

Some retailers use scent marketing and psychology to influence behaviour.

For example, you may encounter the smell of fresh bread in bakeries, chocolate in confectionery aisles and meat aromas near butchery counters.

All this to influence your mood, make you hungry and impact your purchasing behaviour.

Explore more about the link between scent, memory and behaviour in our psychology of odour article.

#5 The Gender Battle

When it comes to odour detection, women generally outperform men in smell sensitivity.

Biological and hormonal differences are thought to contribute to this variation.

We’ll leave the debate there.

#7 Animals – Odour Detection Champions

Animals (especially dogs) have far superior olfactory systems compared to humans.

As humans, we have around 5-6 million odour-detecting cells. Rabbits have around 100 million. While Paddy here is very proud of the dog’s ~300 million receptors.

Police dogs are often responsible for finding drugs, weapons and even bodies. Not only that, but medical dogs are now starting to sniff out diseases such as cancer, malaria, stroke and Parkinson’s.

Unfortunately, these doggy senses are not particularly helpful in a laboratory setting. Instead, we have to employ other ingenious ways to measure odour.

#8 Uranus Smells

Space can be surprisingly smelly.

Uranus is often described (scientifically speaking) as smelling like rotten eggs, thanks to the abundance of hydrogen sulphide in its atmosphere.

Of course, no one has actually tested this directly. There’s no breathable atmosphere in space.

Still… a fun (and dare we say ‘cool’) child-friendly fact worth sharing.

#9 Age & Odour

The sense of smell is linked to age! Your sniffer powers peak in your late teens (around 18-19 years old). After that, sensitivity gradually declines with age and certain odours become harder to detect.

This is one reason for using structured odour testing panels and trained assessors in professional assessments.

Quick Overview of Odour Detection Facts

Odour Detection & Scientific Measurement

These odour detection facts are fun, but they also highlight something important. In everyday life, odour is highly subjective. But in environmental monitoring, it must be measured objectively.

This is where techniques like odour sampling, olfactometry and dispersion modelling become essential for compliance and decision making.

Explore our full range of odour services for more information.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through some fascinating odour facts.

Did you keep track of your score? Feel free to share it with us. We would love to know how you did.

And if you are dealing with odour challenges in a professional setting, our team can help with:

Call: 01525 860222
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^{_{Published October 2020. Last updated April 2026.}}