This might sound like common scents . . . but the aroma of breakfast is a man’s favourite smell while for women it is a newborn baby, according to the latest research.

And another survey claims you can tell where a girl is from by her choice of perfume.

But why is our sense of smell such a vital part of our lives – and how has it influenced science, art, culture and history?

1. A new nose


2. Remembering a smell


Research has shown that smell is the sense most linked to our emotional recollection. So, when linked to a product, that can reap dividends.


One of the most evocative smells from childhood is crayons.

A survey found that 85% of all people remembered their childhood when they caught the smell of Crayola crayons and the newer crayon-scented coloured pens.

3. Your sense of smell gets bored


4. Early developer


5. A female sense of smell


6. Peak sense of smell

The sense of smell peaks when we are in our late teens and begins a gradual decline. People who have an impaired ability to smell, and therefore taste, tend to follow diets that are less healthy.

7. Seasons and smell


8. Puny humans


9. Unique sweat

Forget fingerprints or CCTV, perspiration could be the big thing for crime busting in the future. Israeli chemists say the food we eat, drugs we take, gender and even state of mind, all combine to make each person’s sweat unique.


10. An animals favourite smell

While humans each have a favourite smell, so too do animals. Cats like the smell of valerian, lions a mint smell and camels like the smell of tobacco.

11. A smell in history

It is not enough now to go to museums to see the past come to life, you have to smell it, too. At the Jorvik Viking Centre, a stench is pumped inside to give visitors a true simulation of what the Viking era would have smelled like.

The museum attracts more than 14 million visitors a year who visit to experience smells such as a Viking toilet and village.

12. Area size


13. New car smell


And while not everyone can own a Rolls-Royce, at least you could get the smell. The car manufacturer reproduced the scent of the 1965 Silver Cloud and sprays it under the seats to recreate the smell of a classic Roller.

The same goes for flying. Singapore Airlines recreated a scent of the Orient for its flights. The aroma of lotus flowers and bamboo forests is put on hot towels for passengers.

14. Can you smell in your sleep?


15. Smell and taste


16. Sports smells

Sport can use the power of smell. During baseball’s World Series of 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays ditched stale hot dogs and beer in favour of a scent dubbed “citrus burst” to flood the stadium.

17. People who can't smell

People who cannot smell have a condition called anosmia.

18. Hotel smells

In America, hotel chains have devised their own scent. Sheratons smell like fig, clove and jasmine; Westin lobbies go for white tea while the Four Points venues smell of cinnamon.

19. The smell attraction


20. Bad smells

Spare a thought for the poor people who suffer from cacosmia. Even a bunch of fresh flowers is horrible as they perceive all smells as something revolting, such as putrid or vomit.