The authors of the new work concluded that the perception of different odors - pleasant and repulsive - occurs
They conducted an experiment with almost 300 volunteersfrom different cultures and groups. The sample included representatives of groups of hunters and gatherers, rural residents, city dwellers of megacities, as well as people living in forests, deserts and highlands. All volunteers were offered ten scents to be ranked from the most pleasant to the most repulsive.
It turned out that all participants preferred one andthe same aroma - vanilla. This result indicates the universality of odor perception and its evolutionary value. Among the most pleasant odors was also ethyl butyrate, an oily ester with a fruity scent, as well as linalool, the main component of most perfumes with a fruity-floral scent.
Volunteers called the most repulsive - the smellisovaleric acid. Some bacteria produce it when they process food from protein. The smell can be partially compared to that of stale socks or some varieties of cheese.
Previously, it was assumed that the perception of smells is superimposed on the personal experience of a person, his culture and traditions.
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