An odor (American English) or odour (Commonwealth English; see spelling

differences) is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds that are

generally found in low concentrations that humans and many animals can perceive via
their sense of smell. An odor is also called a "smell" or a "scent", which can
refer to either a pleasant or an unpleasant odor.

While "odor" and "smell" can refer to pleasant and unpleasant odors, the terms
"scent", "aroma", and "fragrance" are usually reserved for pleasant-smelling odors
and are frequently used in the food and cosmetic industry to describe floral scents
or to refer to perfumes.

Physiology of smell

Odor control covers at a sewage treatment plant: Under these covers, grit and
gravel are settled out of the wastewater.
Sense of smell
The perception of odors, or sense of smell, is mediated by the olfactory nerve. The
olfactory receptor (OR) cells are neurons present in the olfactory epithelium,
which is a small patch of tissue at the back of the nasal cavity. There are
millions of olfactory receptor neurons that act as sensory signaling cells. Each
neuron has cilia in direct contact with the air. Odorous molecules bind to receptor
proteins extending from cilia and act as a chemical stimulus, initiating electric
signals that travel along the olfactory nerve's axons to the brain.[1]

When an electrical signal reaches a threshold, the neuron fires, which sends a
signal traveling along the axon to the olfactory bulb, a part of the limbic system
of the brain. Interpretation of the smell begins there, relating the smell to past
experiences and in relation to the substance(s) inhaled. The olfactory bulb acts as
a relay station connecting the nose to the olfactory cortex in the brain. Olfactory
information is further processed and forwarded to the central nervous system (CNS),
which controls emotions and behavior as well as basic thought processes.

Odor sensation usually depends on the concentration (number of molecules) available

to the olfactory receptors. A single odorant is usually recognized by many
receptors. Different odorants are recognized by combinations of receptors. The
patterns of neuron signals help to identify the smell. The olfactory system does
not interpret a single compound, but instead the whole odorous mix. This does not
correspond to the concentration or intensity of any single constituent.[2][3]

Most odors consist of organic compounds, although some simple compounds not
containing carbon, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, are also odorants. The
perception of an odor effect is a two-step process. First, there is the
physiological part. This is the detection of stimuli by receptors in the nose. The
stimuli are recognized by the region of the human brain which handles olfaction.
Because of this, an objective and analytical measure of odor is impossible. While
odor feelings are personal perceptions, individual reactions are usually related.
They relate to things such as gender, age, state of health, and personal history.

Smell acuity by age and sex

The ability to identify odor varies among people and decreases with age. Studies
claim that there are sex differences in odor discrimination, and that women usually
outperform men.[4] Conversely, there are some studies claiming a male advantage.[5]
[6][7] A 2019 meta-analysis claimed that the differences in olfaction are extremely
small, but confirmed a small advantage for women.[8]

Pregnant women have increased smell sensitivity, sometimes resulting in abnormal

taste and smell perceptions, leading to food cravings or aversions.[9] The ability
to taste also decreases with age as the sense of smell tends to dominate the sense
of taste. Chronic smell problems are reported in small numbers for those in their
mid-twenties, with numbers increasing steadily, with overall sensitivity beginning
to decline in the second decade of life, and then deteriorating appreciably as age
increases, especially once over 70 years of age.[10]

Smell acuity compared to other animals

For most untrained individuals, the act of smelling acquires little information
concerning the specific ingredients of an odor. Their smell perception primarily
offers information that elicits an emotional response.[citation needed] Experienced
individuals, however, such as flavorists and perfumers, can identify discrete
chemicals in complex mixtures using only their sense of smell.

Odor perception is a primary evolutionary sense. The sense of smell can induce
pleasure or subconsciously warn of danger, which may, for example, help to locate
mates, find food, or detect predators. Humans have an unusually good sense of smell
considering they have only 350 functional olfactory receptor genes compared to the
1,300 found in mice, for example. This is despite an apparent evolutionary decline
in the sense of smell.[11][12] The human sense of smell is comparable with many
animals, able to distinguish between a diverse range of odors. Studies have
reported that humans can distinguish in the region of one trillion unique aromas.
[13][14]

Habituation or adaptation
Odors that a person is used to, such as their own body odor, are less noticeable
than uncommon odors. This is due to "habituation." After continuous odor exposure,
the sense of smell is fatigued, but recovers if the stimulus is removed for a time.
[15] Odors can change due to environmental conditions: for example, odors tend to
be more distinguishable in cool dry air.[16]

Habituation affects the ability to distinguish odors after continuous exposure. The
sensitivity and ability to discriminate odors diminishes with exposure, and the
brain tends to ignore continuous stimulus and focus on differences and changes in a
particular sensation. When odorants are mixed, a habitual odorant is blocked. This
depends on the strength of the odorants in the mixture, which can change the
perception and processing of an odor. This process helps classify similar odors as
well as adjust sensitivity to differences in complex stimuli.[17]

Genetic component
The primary gene sequences for thousands of olfactory receptors are known for the
genomes of more than a dozen organisms. They are seven-helix-turn transmembrane
proteins. But there are no known structures for any olfactory receptor. There is a
conserved sequence in roughly three quarters of all ORs. This is a tripodal metal-
ion binding site,[18] and Suslick has proposed that the ORs are in fact
metalloproteins (most likely with zinc, copper, and manganese ions) that serve as a
Lewis Acid site for the binding of many odorant molecules. In 1978, Crabtree
suggested that Cu(I) is "the most likely candidate for a metallo-receptor site in
olfaction" of strong-smelling volatiles. These are also good metal-coordinating
ligands, such as thiols.[19] In 2012, Zhuang, Matsunami, and Block confirmed the
Crabtree/Suslick proposal for the specific case of a mouse OR, MOR244-3, showing
that copper is essential for detection of certain thiols and other sulfur-
containing compounds. Thus, by using a chemical that binds to copper in the mouse
nose, so that copper wasn't available to the receptors, the authors showed that the
mice couldn't detect the thiols without the copper. However, these authors also
found that MOR244-3 lacks the specific metal ion binding site suggested by Suslick,
instead showing a different motif in the EC2 domain.[20]

Evolutionary impact
Gordon Shepherd proposed that the retro-nasal route of olfaction (odorants
introduced to the olfactory mucosa through the oral cavity often as food) was
partially responsible for the development of human olfactory acuity. He suggested
the evolutionary pressure of diversification of food sources and increased
complexity of food preparation presented humans with a broader range of odorants,
ultimately leading to a "richer repertoire of smells". Animals such as dogs show a
greater sensitivity to odors than humans, especially in studies using short-chain
compounds. Higher cognitive brain mechanisms and more olfactory brain regions
enable humans to discriminate odors better than other mammals despite fewer
olfactory receptor genes.[21]

Measuring techniques
Concentration
Odor concentration refers to an odor's pervasiveness. To measure odor sensation, an
odor is diluted to a detection or recognition threshold. The detection threshold is
the concentration of an odor in air when 50% of a population can distinguish
between the odorous sample and an odor-free reference sample. The recognition odor
threshold is usually a factor of two to five higher than the detection threshold.
[22]

The measurement of odor concentration is the most widespread method to quantify

odors. It is standardized in CEN EN 13725:2003.[23] The method is based on dilution
of an odor sample to the odor threshold. The numerical value of the odor
concentration is equal to the dilution factor that is necessary to reach the odor
threshold. Its unit is the "European Odour Unit", OUE. Therefore, the odor
concentration at the odor threshold is 1 OUE by definition.

Olfactometer
To establish odor concentration, an olfactometer is used which employs a group of
human panelists. A diluted odorous mixture and an odor-free gas—n-Butanol—as a
reference are presented from sniffing ports to a group of panelists who are
sensitive in odor perception. To collect an odor sample, the samples are collected
using specialized sample bags, which are made from an odor free material, e.g.,
Teflon. The most accepted technique for collecting odor samples is the lung
technique, where the sample bag is placed in a sealed drum, where a vacuum is
created outside the bag, which fills under expansion, and draws into itself the
sample from the source. Critically, all components which touch the odor sample,
must be odor free, which includes lines and fittings.

In comparing the odor emitted from each port, the panelists are asked to report if
they can detect a difference between the ports. The gas-diluting ratio is then
decreased by a factor of 1.4 or two (i.e., the concentration is increased
accordingly). The panelists are asked to repeat the test. This continues until the
panelists respond with certainty and correctly twice in a row. These responses are
used to calculate the concentration of the odor in terms of European odor units
(OUE/m3, where 1 OUE/m3≡40 ppb/v n-butanol).[24]

Humans can discriminate between two odorants that differ in concentration by as

little as 7%.[25] A human's odor detection threshold is variable. Repeated exposure
to an odorant leads to enhanced olfactory sensitivity and decreased detection
thresholds for a number of different odorants.[26] It was found in a study that
humans who were unable to detect the odor of androstenone developed the ability to
detect it after repeated exposure.[27] People who cannot smell are said to be
anosmic.

There are a number of issues which have to be overcome with sampling, these
include:

If the source is under vacuum

if the source is at a high temperature
If the source has high humidity
Issues such as temperature and humidity are best overcome using either pre-dilution
or dynamic dilution techniques.

Other analytical methods

Other analytic methods can be subdivided into the physical, the gas
chromatographical, and the chemosensory method.

When measuring odor, there is a difference between emission and immission

measurements. Emission measurement can be taken by olfactometry using an
olfactometer to dilute the odor sample. Olfactometry is rarely used for immission
measurement because of low odor concentrations involved. The same measuring
principles are used, but the judgment of the air-assay happens without diluting the
samples.

Odor measurement is essential for odor regulation and control.[28] An odor emission
often consists of a complex mixture of many odorous compounds. Analytical
monitoring of individual chemical compounds present in such an odor is usually not
practical. As a result, odor sensory methods, instead of instrumental methods, are
normally used to measure such odor. Odor sensory methods are available to monitor
odor both from source emissions and in the ambient air. These two contexts require
different approaches for measuring odor. The collection of odor samples is more
easily accomplished for a source emission than for odor in the ambient air.[29]

Field measurement with portable field olfactometers can seem more effective, but
olfactometer use is not regulated in Europe, while it is popular in the U.S. and
Canada, where several states set limits at the receptor sites or along the
perimeter of odor-emitting plants, expressed in units of dilution-to-threshold
(D/T).[30]

Intensity
Odor intensity is the perceived strength of odor sensation. This intensity property
is used to locate the source of odors and perhaps most directly related to odor
nuisance.[3]

The perceived strength of the odor sensation is measured in conjunction with odor
concentration. This can be modeled by the Weber-Fechner law: I = a × log(c) + b,
[31] where I is the perceived psychological intensity at the dilution step on the
butanol scale, a is the Weber-Fechner coefficient, C is the chemical
concentrations, and b is the intercept constant (0.5 by definition).[31]

Odor intensity can be expressed using an odor intensity scale, which is a verbal
description of an odor sensation to which a numerical value is assigned.[31]

Odor intensity can be divided into the following categories according to intensity:

0 – no odor
1 – very weak (odor threshold)
2 – weak
3 – distinct
4 – strong
5 – very strong
6 – intolerable
Odor intensity is determined in a laboratory by specialists who have been trained
to accurately define intensity.

Hedonic tone assessment

Hedonic assessment is the process of rating odors according to a scale ranging from
extremely unpleasant to extremely pleasant. Intensity and hedonic tone, whilst
similar, refer to different things: that is, the strength of the odor (intensity)
and the pleasantness of an odor (hedonic tone). The perception of an odor may
change from pleasant to unpleasant with increasing concentration, intensity, time,
frequency, or previous experience with a specific odor—all factors in determining a
response.[32]

FIDOL factors
The overall set of qualities are sometimes identified as the "FIDOL (Frequency,
Intensity, Duration, Offensiveness, Location) factors".[33]

The character of an odor is a critical element in assessing an odor. This property

is the ability to distinguish different odors and is only descriptive. First, a
basic description is used—such as sweet, pungent, acrid, fragrant, warm, dry, or
sour. The odor is then referenced to a source such as sewage or apple which can
then be followed by a reference to a specific chemical such as acids or gasoline.
[3]

Most commonly, a set of standard descriptors is used, which may range from
"fragrant" to "sewer odor".[34] Although the method is fairly simplistic, it is
important for the FIDOL factors to be understood by the person rating the smell.
This method is most commonly used to define the character of an odor which can then
be compared to other odors. It is common for olfactometry laboratories to report
character as an additional factor post sample-analysis.

Categorization
Different categorizations of primary odors have been proposed, including the
following, which identifies 7 primary odors:[22][35][36]

Musky – perfumes
Putrid – rotten eggs
Pungent – vinegar
Camphoraceous – mothballs
Ethereal – dry cleaning fluid
Floral – roses (see also floral scent)
Pepperminty – mint gum
Though the concept of primary odors is not universally accepted.[36]

Interpretive dispersion modeling

In many countries odor modeling is used to determine the extent of an impact from
an odor source. These are a function of modeled concentration, averaging time (over
what time period the model steps are run over, typically hourly), and a percentile.
Percentiles refer to a statistical representation of how many hours per year the
concentration C may be exceeded based on the averaging period.

Sampling from area sources

There are two main odor sampling techniques: direct and indirect odor sampling
techniques.

Direct sampling
Direct refers to the placement of an enclosure on or over an emitting surface from
which samples are collected, and an odor emission rate is determined.

The most commonly used direct methods include the flux chamber[37] and wind tunnels
such as the one at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).[38] There are many
other available techniques, and consideration should be given to a number of
factors before selecting a suitable method.

A source which has implications for this method are sources, such as bark bed
biofilters, that have a vertical velocity component. For such sources,
consideration must be given as to the most appropriate method. A commonly used
technique is to measure the odor concentration at the emitting surface, and combine
this with the volumetric flow rate of air entering the biofilter to produce an
emission rate.

Indirect sampling
Indirect sampling is often referred to as back calculation. It involves the use of
a mathematical formula to predict an emission rate.

Many methods are used, but all make use of the same inputs which include surface
roughness, upwind and downwind concentrations, stability class (or other similar
factor), wind speed, and wind direction.

Health risks

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The human sense of smell is a primary factor in the sensation of comfort. Olfaction
as a sensory system brings awareness of the presence of airborne chemicals. Some
inhaled chemicals are volatile compounds that act as a stimulus, triggering
unwanted reactions such as nose, eye, and throat irritation. Perception of odor and
of irritation is unique to each person, and varies because of physical conditions
or memory of past exposures to similar chemicals. A person's specific threshold,
before an odor becomes a nuisance, depends also on the frequency, concentration,
and duration of an odor.

The perception of irritation from odor sensation is hard to investigate because

exposure to a volatile chemical elicits a different response based on sensory and
physiological signals, and interpretation of these signals is influenced by
experience, expectations, personality, or situational factors. Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) may have higher concentrations in confined indoor environments,
due to restricted infiltration of fresh air, as compared to the outdoor
environment, leading to greater potential for toxic health exposures from a variety
of chemical compounds. Health effects of odor are traced to the sensation of an
odor or the odorant itself. Health effects and symptoms vary—including eye, nose,
or throat irritation, cough, chest tightness, drowsiness, and mood change—all of
which decrease as an odor ceases. Odors may also trigger illnesses such as asthma,
depression, stress-induced illness, or hypersensitivity. The ability to perform
tasks may decrease, and other social/behavioral changes may occur.

Occupants should expect remediation from disturbing and unexpected odors that
disturb concentration, diminish productivity, evoke symptoms, and generally
increase the dislike for a particular environment. It is important to set
occupational exposure limits (OELs) to ensure the health and safety of workers, as
well as comfort, because exposure to chemicals can elicit physiological and
biochemical changes in the upper respiratory system. Standards are hard to set when
exposures are not reported and can also be hard to measure. Workforce populations
vary in terms of discomfort from odors because of exposure history or habituation,
and they may not realize possible risks of exposure to chemicals that produce
specific odors.[39][40]

Types

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Some odors are sought after, such as from perfumes and flowers, some of which
command high prices. Whole industries have developed around products that remove or
mask unpleasant odors, such as deodorant.

Odor molecules transmit messages to the limbic system, the area of the brain that
governs emotional responses. Some believe that these messages have the power to
alter moods, evoke distant memories, raise spirits, and boost self-confidence. This
belief has led to "aromatherapy", wherein fragrances are claimed to cure a wide
range of psychological and physical problems. Aromatherapy claims that fragrances
can positively affect sleep, stress, alertness, social interaction, and general
feelings of well-being. Evidence for the effectiveness of aromatherapy is mostly
anecdotal and controlled scientific studies to substantiate its claims are lacking.

Some people are allergic to the fragrances found in perfume, scented shampoo,
scented deodorant, or similar products. Reactions, as with other chemical
allergies, can range from slight headaches to anaphylactic shock, which can result
in death.[citation needed]

Unpleasant odors play various roles in nature, often to warn of danger, though this
may not be known to the subject who smells it.[41] The natural gas industry uses
odor to enable consumers to identify leaks. Natural gas in its native state is
colorless and almost odorless. To help users detect leaks, an odorizer with the
scent of rotten eggs, tert-Butylthiol (t-butyl mercaptan), is added. Sometimes a
related compound, thiophane, may be used in the mixture.

An odor that is viewed as unpleasant by some people or cultures can be viewed as

attractive by others where it is more familiar or has a better reputation.[41] It
is commonly thought that those exuding an unpleasant body odor are unattractive to
others. But studies have shown that a person who is exposed to a particular
unpleasant odor can be attracted to others who have been exposed to the same
unpleasant odor.[41] This includes odors associated with pollution.[41]

What causes a substance to smell unpleasant may be different from what one
perceives. For example, perspiration is often viewed as having an unpleasant odor,
but it is odorless. It is bacteria in the perspiration that causes the odor.[42]

Unpleasant odors can arise from specific industrial processes, adversely affecting
workers and even residents downwind of the source. The most common sources of
industrial odor arise from sewage treatment plants, refineries, animal rendering
factories, and industries processing chemicals (such as sulfur) which have odorous
characteristics. Sometimes industrial odor sources are the subject of community
controversy and scientific analysis.

Body odor is present both in animals and humans and its intensity can be influenced
by many factors (behavioral patterns, survival strategies). Body odor has a strong
genetic basis both in animals and humans, but it can be also strongly influenced by
various diseases and psychological conditions.

Study
The study of odors is a growing field but is a complex and difficult one. The human
olfactory system can detect many thousands of scents based on only minute airborne
concentrations of a chemical. The sense of smell of many animals is even better.
Some fragrant flowers give off odor plumes that move downwind and are detectable by
bees more than a kilometer away.

The study of odors is complicated by the complex chemistry taking place at the
moment of a smell sensation. For example, iron-containing metallic objects are
perceived to have a distinctive odor when touched, although iron's vapor pressure
is negligible. According to a 2006 study, this smell is the result of aldehydes
(for example, nonanal) and ketones: 1-octen-3-one) released from the human skin on
contact with ferrous ions that are formed in the sweat-mediated corrosion of iron.
The same chemicals are also associated with the smell of blood, as ferrous iron in
blood on skin produces the same reaction.[43]

Pheromones
Pheromones are odors that are used for communication, and are sometimes called
"airborne hormones". A female moth may release a pheromone that can entice a male
moth that is several kilometers downwind. Honeybee queens constantly release
pheromones that regulate the activity of the hive. Worker bees can release such
smells to call other bees into an appropriate cavity when a swarm moves into new
quarters, or to "sound" an alarm when the hive is threatened.

Advanced technology
Most artificial or electronic nose instruments work by combining output from an
array of non-specific chemical sensors to produce a fingerprint of whatever
volatile chemicals in the local environment. Most electronic noses need to be
"trained" to recognize chemicals of interest before it can be used.[44][45] Many
current electronic-nose instruments suffer from problems with reproducibility
subject to varying ambient temperature and humidity. An example of this type of
technology is the colorimetric sensor array, which visualizes odor through color
change and creates a "picture" of it.[46][47]

Behavioral cues
Odor perception is a complex process involving the central nervous system and can
evoke psychological and physiological responses. Because the olfactory signal
terminates in or near the amygdala, odors are strongly linked to memories and can
evoke emotions. The amygdala participates in the hedonic or emotional processing of
olfactory stimuli.[48] Odors can disturb our concentration, diminish productivity,
evoke symptoms, and in general increase a dislike for an environment. Odors can
impact the liking for a person, place, food, or product as a form of conditioning.
[49] Memories recalled by odors are significantly more emotional and evocative than
those recalled by the same cue presented visually or auditorily.[50] Odors can
become conditioned to experiential states and when later encountered have
directional influences on behavior. Doing a frustrating task in a scented room
decreases performance of other cognitive tasks in the presence of the same odor.
[51] Nonhuman animals communicate their emotional states through changes in body
odor, and human body odors are indicative of emotional state.[52]

Human body odors influence interpersonal relationships and are involved in adaptive
behaviors, such as parental attachment in infants or partner choice in adults.
"Mothers can discriminate the odor of their own child, and infants recognize and
prefer the body odor of their mother over that of another woman. This maternal odor
appears to guide infants toward the breast and to have a calming effect."[citation
needed] Body odor is involved in the development of infant–mother attachment and is
essential to a child's social and emotional development and evokes feelings of
security. Reassurance created by familiar parental body odors may contribute
significantly to the attachment process.[53] Human body odors can also affect mate
choice. Fragrances are commonly used to raise sexual attractiveness and induce
sexual arousal. Researchers found that people choose perfume that interacts well
with their body odor.[54]

Body odor is a sensory cue critical for mate selection in humans because it is a
signal of immunological health. Women prefer men with major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) genotypes and odor different from themselves especially during
ovulation. Different MHC alleles are favorable because different allele
combinations would maximize disease protection and minimize recessive mutations in
offspring. Biologically females tend to select mates "who are most likely to secure
offspring survival and thus increase the likelihood that her genetic contribution
will be reproductively viable."[55]

Studies have suggested that people might be using odor cues associated with the
immune system to select mates. Using a brain-imaging technique, Swedish researchers
have shown that gay and straight males' brains respond in different ways to two
odors that may be involved in sexual arousal, and that the gay men respond in the
same way as straight women, though it could not be determined whether this was
cause or effect. The study was expanded to include lesbian women; the results were
consistent with previous findings that lesbian women were not as responsive to
male-identified odors, while their response to female cues was similar to that of
straight males.[56] According to the researchers, this research suggests a possible
role for human pheromones in the biological basis of sexual orientation.[57]

An odor can cue recall of a distant memory. Most memories that pertain to odor come
from the first decade of life, compared to verbal and visual memories which usually
come from the 10th to 30th years of life.[58] Odor-evoked memories are more
emotional, associated with stronger feelings of being brought back in time, and
have been thought of less often as compared to memories evoked by other cues.[58]

Use in design
Further information: Visual merchandising § Scent
The sense of smell is not overlooked as a way of marketing products. The deliberate
and controlled application of scent is used by designers, scientists, artists,
perfumers, architects, and chefs. Some applications of scents in environments are
in casinos, hotels, private clubs, and new automobiles. For example, "technicians
at New York City’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center disperse vanilla-scented oil into
the air to help patients cope with the claustrophobic effects of MRI testing.
Scents are used at the Chicago Board of Trade to lower the decibel level on the
trading floor."[59]

If ingredients are listed on a product, the term "fragrance" can be used in a

general sense.

Scent preferences
Effect of perfume on sexual attractiveness
Both men and women use perfume to boost their sexual attractiveness to members of
the opposite, or same, sex. When people find that a particular perfume or
aftershave is perceived positively, they may be hard-pressed to change it.
Olfactory communication is natural in humans. Without perfume or aftershave, humans
unconsciously detect people's natural scents: in the form of pheromones. Pheromones
are usually detected unconsciously, and it is believed that they have an important
influence on human's social and sexual behaviour [60] There are a number of
hypotheses concerning why humans wear perfume or aftershave, and whether it
amplifies or reduces their natural scents.

In 2001, a study found that the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (a

polymorphic set of genes which is important for immune-function in humans) is
correlated with the ingredients found in perfume. This suggests that humans do, in
fact, choose perfumes that complement or enhance their natural scents (their
pheromones). This evidence offers support for the hypothesis that perfume is chosen
by individuals to advertise their physical health. Research suggests that this
advertisement of good health will, in fact, enhance females’ attractiveness to the
opposite sex as health markers have been shown to do.[61] While strong evidence has
been found to support the hypothesis that wearing perfume enhances females’
attractiveness to males, little research has been done into the effect of fragrance
on males’ attractiveness to females. Considerably more research has covered the
effect of males’ natural odor and females’ ratings of attractiveness. Many
studies[62] found that odor predicted attractiveness when female raters were not on
any form of contraceptive pill. For those who were, there was no relation between
attractiveness and body odor.

A person's odor can increase or decrease ratings of attractiveness because the

olfactory receptors in the brain are directly linked with the limbic system, the
part of the brain that is thought to be most involved with emotion. This link is
important, because if an individual associates positive affect (elicited by
pheromones[63]), with a potential mate, their liking for, and attraction to, that
potential mate will be increased.[64] Although not a typically evolutionary
hypothesis, this hypothesis is one that acknowledges how humans have adapted their
mating strategies to modern-day societal norms.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and body odor preferences

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a genotype found in vertebrates,
including humans. MHC is thought to contribute to mate choice in animals and
humans. In sexual selection, females opt for mates with an MHC which differs from
their own, optimising genes for their offspring.[65] The "heterozygote advantage"
and "Red Queen" explanations for these findings fall under the "pathogen
hypothesis". Due to differences in MHC alleles' resistance to pathogens, a
preference for mates with a dissimilar MHC composition has been argued to act as a
mechanism to avoid infectious diseases. According to the heterozygotes-advantage
hypothesis, diversity within the MHC genotype is beneficial for the immune system
due to a greater range of antigens available to the host. Therefore, the hypothesis
proposes that MHC heterozygotes will be superior to MHC homozygotes in fighting off
pathogens. Experimental research has shown mixed findings for this idea.[66] The
"Red Queen" or "rare-allele" hypothesis suggests that diversity in the MHC gene
provides a moving target for pathogens, making it more difficult for them to adapt
to MHC genotypes in the host.[67] Another hypothesis suggests that preferences for
MHC-dissimilar mates could serve to avoid inbreeding.[68]

Body odor can provide MHC information. Although less is known about how odor is
influenced by MHC genes, possible explanations have been that microbial flora[69]
or volatile acids[70] are affected by the gene, which can be detected in body odor.
Female mice and humans have both shown odor preferences for males with MHC-
dissimilarity.[71] Research has shown that women prefer the scent of men with
dissimilar MHC genes. In a study, women rated the scent of T-shirts, worn over two
nights by men, as more pleasant when smelling those of MHC-dissimilar men.[72] It
has also been found that women were reminded more of current or prior partners when
smelling odors from men whose MHC was dissimilar to their own. A study of married
couples found that MHC haplotypes differed between spouses more than chance would
dictate.[73] Taking oral contraceptives has been found to reverse the MHC-
dissimilarity odor preference.[74]

Women's scent preferences and the menstrual cycle

Women's preferences for body odor change with their menstrual cycles.[75] The
ovulatory-shift hypothesis argues that women experience elevated immediate sexual
attraction, relative to low-fertile days of the cycle, to men with characteristics
that reflect good genetic quality.[76] Body odor may provide significant cues about
a potential sexual partner's genetic quality, reproductive status, and health, with
a woman's preferences for particular body odors becoming heightened during her most
fertile days.[77] As certain body odors can reflect good genetic quality, woman are
more likely to prefer these scents when they are fertile, as this is when they are
most likely to produce offspring with any potential mates, with conception-risk
being related to a preference for the scent of male symmetry.[75] Men also prefer
the scent of women at their fertile cycle points.[78]

There are several scents that reflect good genetic quality that females prefer
during the most fertile phase of their cycles. Women prefer the scent of
symmetrical men more during the fertile phases of their menstrual cycle than during
their infertile phases,[79] with estrogen positively predicting women's preferences
for the scent of symmetry.[80] Women's preferences for masculine faces is greatest
when their fertility is at its highest,[79] and so is the preference for attractive
faces.[81] Other scents found to be preferred by women in the most fertile phase of
their cycle are the scent for developmental stability,[82] and the scent for
dominance.[83]

If women are taking a contraceptive pill the changes in mate scent preferences over
the menstrual cycle are not expressed.[84] If odor plays a role in human mate
choice then the contraceptive pill could disrupt disassortative mate preferences.
[85] Those taking a contraceptive pill show no significant preference for the scent
of either symmetrical or asymmetrical men, whereas normally cycling women prefer
the scent of shirts worn by symmetrical men.[86] Males' preferences for women's
scent may also change if the woman is taking oral contraceptives. When women take a
contraceptive pill, this has been found to demolish the cycle attractiveness of
odors that men find attractive in normally ovulating women.[87] Therefore, a
contraceptive pill affects both women's preferences for scent and also affects
their own scents, making their scent less attractive to males than the scent of
normally cycling women.

See also
Aroma compound
Chemoreceptor
Flavor
Machine olfaction
Olfaction
Olfactometer
Olfactory fatigue
Perfume
Phantosmia
Scented water
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Further reading
Jarvis, Brooke (January 28, 2021). "What Can Covid-19 Teach Us About the Mysteries
of Smell?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2021.

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