Buzz
Anyone who's ever kept an item for its sentimental scent knows that smells can fade. But is it possible to actively remove the odor from something? This was the question posed by mental_floss to scent expert and author of What The Nose Knows, Avery Gilbert, who affirmed that, with some qualifications, "the concept isn't all that unusual."
Gilbert explains via email that air fresheners meant to last for a certain period work by the evaporation of chemicals that activate receptors in your olfactory sensory neurons, and this concept could apply to scent removal. "In theory, you could place a drop of fragrance in a sealed container, and using one-way valves and a nose mask, repeatedly inhale the scented air," he says. "Eventually, the odor would be used up. It might take quite a bit of inhaling, but it's possible."
Could you, for example, stand over a stinky sock and sniff until it no longer smells? "Probably not," Gilbert responds. "Most materials soaked in scent (like gym socks or White Castle boxes) cling to fragrance molecules stubbornly, making it tough to completely erase the smell." Factors like porosity, electrical charge, and chemical composition all influence how strongly an object holds onto the molecules that trigger odors in our brain. Moreover, the butyric acid responsible for foot odor is particularly "sticky"—but so is vanillin, which gives vanilla its scent.
When you chew gum until the taste fades, your nose plays a small part in the process. Odor molecules reach your olfactory neurons in two ways—either through your nostrils or through the roof of your mouth. As the flavor of the gum diminishes, "some of the volatile flavor compounds dissolve and are swallowed," Gilbert explains. "But the remainder is 'smelled away' through the nose."
Nevertheless, don't hesitate to stop and enjoy the roses. They have an abundance of scent to offer.
