The
Stink or Oder-- How to get rid of it!
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.

Odors
correspond to the objective phenomenon of chemicals dissolved in
air, although, as with other senses, psychological factors can play
a part in perception.
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.
Odors that are
mostly perceived as "pleasant":
* flowers,
trees, some plants, baked goods, cologne, mint, fresh fruit
Odors that are
mostly perceived as "unpleasant":
* bad breath,
foot odor, feces, flatulence, 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.
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.
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.
Difficult
odors to remove.
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