The 12 Most Iconic Aromas (of 1982)

Back in the early 1980s, psychologist William Cain conducted an intriguing study where participants were asked to identify the smell of lighter fluid—all in the pursuit of scientific discovery. Partnering with Yale University students, Cain and his team presented 80 familiar fragrances to test how well people could recognize them.

The findings were published in a 1982 paper titled “Odor Identification by Males and Females” in the Chemical Senses journal. Over three decades later, this study not only captures the scents we were once surrounded by but also highlights how some aromas remain timeless. Take a moment to breathe it in.      

1. Coffee

Most of Cain’s participants easily identified the rich, inviting scent of ground coffee, and it’s safe to say the same would hold true in today’s world filled with Starbucks on every corner. “Even those who don’t drink coffee frequently are drawn to its aroma,” notes Cain, currently a senior scientist at the Chemosensory Perception Lab in San Diego. “There’s a unique appeal to it that sets it apart. While other scents on the list are equally common, coffee stands out. I believe even children are fond of its smell.”

2. Vicks VapoRub

Vicks, a menthol-infused ointment, is intentionally crafted to have a strong, memorable scent. Its distinct aroma, paired with a recognizable brand name, makes it easy to recall. “The product’s name provides a stable reference point,” Cain explains. In his research, participants who used specific product names for identification succeeded 80 to 90 percent of the time. When they relied on generic terms, their accuracy dropped to just 50 percent.

3. Peanut Butter

In a time before widespread peanut allergies, Cain had participants sniffing jars of peanut butter without incident. Surprisingly, this relatively subtle aroma was easily identified in the study, even though different brands can have unique scents. One reason could be that peanuts emit over 200 airborne molecules, creating a complex yet recognizable olfactory profile.

4. Chocolate

Participants were allowed some flexibility with this scent. “If I provide Hershey’s chocolate, I can confidently say, 'This represents chocolate,'” Cain explains. “However, there are many varieties of chocolate, and the category allows for some variation. The same name can be used for different versions of the product.”

5. Wintergreen Oil

Wintergreen, a frequent scent in oral care products, is heavily ingrained in daily life through toothpaste, mouthwash, candies like Life Savers, and even tobacco products. Alongside coffee, it’s likely one of the most widely encountered scents on the list.

6. Johnson’s Baby Powder

Cain was struck by how artificial, manmade scents outperformed natural ones in the study. “Synthetic fragrances are remarkably consistent in how they’re perceived,” he notes. “Take Johnson’s Baby Powder, for example. Even generic brands are designed to mimic its distinctive aroma.”

7. Cigarette Butts

Although the health hazards of smoking were known in the early 1980s, cigarettes were still widely used both indoors and outdoors. “The results would undoubtedly differ today,” Cain remarks. “Back then, smoking was everywhere.”

8. Mothballs

Once a popular insect repellent, mothballs have seen a decline in use due to health concerns linked to their fumes. Children, in particular, are at risk of DNA damage and red blood cell issues when exposed to naphthalene, a key ingredient. (A word of caution: avoid inhaling or consuming mothballs.)

9. Dry Cat Food

Cain points out that the distinct, processed aroma of cat food serves as a prime example of what he terms “decontextualizing” scents. “When handed a jar, people likely don’t anticipate it containing cat food,” he explains. “It’s not a pleasant surprise.” He compares it to the experience of smelling ketchup on a burger, which is far less offensive—and even appealing—compared to sniffing the condiment on its own.

10. Beer

The characteristic yeasty scent of beer, researchers suggest, might stem from its role in attracting fruit flies, allowing fungi to spread to other decaying environments. In Cain’s study, however, the reason for its recognition might be more straightforward: his participants were college students.

11. Ivory Bar Soap

Similar to baby powder, Ivory’s unique scent offered participants a sense of consistency. “These products are manufactured with such precision that they’re nearly identical every time,” Cain explains. “Variations in odor recognition often stem from differences in the stimulus itself.” While one apple may differ from another in ripeness, countless bars of soap are designed to smell exactly alike.

12. Juicy Fruit Gum

Interestingly, women in Cain’s study were significantly more accurate in recognizing the scent of Juicy Fruit gum compared to men, even though they didn’t chew gum more frequently. A significant part of Cain’s research highlighted that women generally excel over men in identifying odors, including those typically associated with masculinity, such as motor oil. Women outperformed men in 66 out of 80 scent samples, though this might be attributed to their stronger verbal recall abilities rather than superior olfactory memory.

The only instance where men demonstrated a clear advantage was in identifying Brut Aftershave. “Men were better at that,” Cain notes. “Perhaps it had something to do with [then-spokesman] Joe Namath.”