Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Chemists Sniff Out Household Stinks

Smell squad recreates odors to wipe them out

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 6, 2008 9:46 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Chemists are trying to replicate the odors of stale smoke and rotting garbage in a quest to make America a better-smelling place, the Wall Street Journal reports. A specialist squad working for the International Flavors and Fragrances company captures common bad household smells, brings them back to the lab, and tries to recreate them in order to concoct better deodorizers.

Working with the stench of smoke, garbage, sweat, and mildew is a malodorous job—as well as a tough one. Most bad smells have a biological source, meaning no two are exactly the same. Smell-neutralizing products based on the team's top-secret work may hit the market soon—although experts say that getting rid of the source of the stench is still the surest way to stop bad smells.

Fragrance researchers have managed to successfully recreate the smell of stale cigarette smoke in the lab.
Fragrance researchers have managed to successfully recreate the smell of stale cigarette smoke in the lab.   (Flickr)
International Flavors & Fragrances' specialist smell squad is working on a recipe to perfectly reproduce the stench of household trash.
International Flavors & Fragrances' specialist smell squad is working on a recipe to perfectly reproduce the stench of household trash.   (Flickr)
Lab workers for a fragrance firm are trying to replicate common household smells to help create products to counteract them.
Lab workers for a fragrance firm are trying to replicate common household smells to help create products to counteract them.   (Shutter Stock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Scientists create smell map
Red Orbit

Researchers investigate the smell of cancer
Guardian (UK)

Israel unleashes world's worst-smelling weapon
Haaretz (Israel)

 
smell • odor • air freshener • chemistry • cleaning • fragrance

More Newser Stories

Companies Spice Up the Smell Of Clean

Cleaners May Trigger Asthma

Stench is in Nose of Beholder

Are We Finally Ready for 'Smellovision'?
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne