Odor

An odor (American English) or odour (Commonwealth English) is the object of perception of the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells. The term stench or pong is used to describe an unpleasant odor. The term fragrance or aroma is used primarily by the food and cosmetic industry to describe a pleasant odor.

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Odors correspond to the objective phenomenon of chemicals dissolved in air, although, as with other senses, psychological factors can play a part in perception.

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Certain odors, such as perfumes and flowers, are much sought after and large prices are paid for the most elite ones. Other whole industries have developed products to remove unpleasant odors. See deodorant.

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Odors that are mostly perceived as "pleasant":

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• fresh breath, flowers, trees, some plants, cologne, mint, fresh fruit

Odors that are mostly perceived as "unpleasant":

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• bad breath, foot odor, feces, vomit, rotting fruit

The perception of odors is also very much dependent upon circumstance. The odor of cooking processes may be agreeable while cooking, but not after the meal when one is full. It is also culturally dependent; what smells great to you may be quite unpleasant for your neighbors.

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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 very 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.

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Pheromones are odors that are deliberately used for communication. A female moth may release a pheromone that can entice a male moth from several kilometers. Honeybee queens constantly release pheromones that regulate the activity of the hive. Workers can release such odors to call other bees into an appropriate cavity when a swarm moves in, or to "sound" an alarm when the hive is threatened.

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There are hopes that smelling machines could do everything from test perfumes to help detect cancer, but as yet artificial noses are still quite inadequate.

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American English: American English (AmE) is the form of the English language used mostly in the United States of America. It is the primary language used in the United States. As of 2005, more than two-thirds of native speakers of English use various forms of American English. American English is also sometimes calle...

Commonwealth English: "Commonwealth English" is intended as a collective term for the perceived standard English language used in the Commonwealth of Nations1, applying in theory to Australian English, British English, Caribbean English, Canadian English, Hiberno-English (Irish English)2, Hong Kong English3, Indian Engli...

Sense: :This article is about the senses of living organsims (vision, taste, etc.). For other uses of the term, see sense (disambiguation)....