The 10 primary scents perceived by the human sense of smell

The human sense of smell is capable of detecting a wide range of different scents from the softest and most comforting to the most intense and unpleasant. In this post we tell you the 10 main categories into which aromas are divided. Any smell in the world can be classified into one of them. Discover them!

And by the way! Don’t miss our article about olfactory memory and the power of Fragrances to revive moments you thought were forgotten.

What primary scents are and how they are perceived

Humans have a highly developed sense of smell that allows them to easily identify a large number of aromas.

There are thousands of different smells, so classifying them is quite a challenge. After extensive research, science chose to group them and divide them into 10 categories different, better known as primary scents.

Any smell in the world that you perceive can be classified within one of these 10 primary scents. From the lightest and softest to the deepest and most intense. This way it will be much easier to identify it.

The primary scents perceived by the sense of smell

There are thousands of odors worldwide that can be perceived by the human sense of smell. However, according to a scientific study published in the specialized magazine PLOS One, these are the 10 primary odors or categories in which we can classify all the aromas we can perceive:

Fruity

The human nose can perceive all kinds of fruity smells. They are the natural aromas that evoke fruits, except citrus such as lemon, lime, and orange. The ease with which the human sense of smell can detect these scents makes them considered a primary odor. If you want to discover more about this aroma, what better way than to enjoy the best fruity Fragrancess that exist. Don't miss them!

Citrus

The smell of orange, lemon, tangerine… Fresh and very pleasant aromas for the human nose that will leave you with a feeling of well-being in the body. That is why many Fragrances and cleaning products stand out for including citrus notes such as lemon among their ingredients. These are citrus Fragrances that cannot be missing from your summer daily routine because they are extremely refreshing.

Floral

Another primary scent is floral, like the smell of roses. These scents are very pleasant to us, which is why they have been used for a long time for Fragrance making.

Nowadays it is possible to find a large number of floral scents, but to make it easy for you and help you find your favorite without wasting time, we recommend you take a look at our article on the best floral Fragrances. They are full of elegance!

Mentholated or refreshing

Mint is one of those smells that is unmistakable and extremely refreshing. It can be used as a spice in numerous recipes, but also in oral hygiene products. Mint is not the only refreshing scent that you can find, as there are others like eucalyptus that also fall within this category.

Sweet

It is usually considered a rich, warm, creamy, and light aroma. This type of scent is often perceived in chocolate, vanilla, or caramel. It is one of the most pleasant smells and often they transport you to childhood. Look at these Fragrances with the smell of cotton candy. We warn you that they are very addictive!

Smoky or burnt

This scent is usually like the aroma released by the smoke produced when wood burning. It is intense, hard to remove, and often associated with smell of popcorn freshly made. You surely know exactly what we mean, as it is a quite distinctive scent.

Woody or resinous

It is a woody scent like that of leaves, resins, shrubs, or bark from trees. Many say it is one of the most pleasant scents, perhaps due to its connection with nature. To know what we are talking about, check out this article with the most desired woody Fragrances and let yourself be captivated.

Chemical

They are synthetic scents, and the nose can recognize them easily. Some examples are alcohol, ammonia, bleach, gasoline, or paint. These types of scents are very intense and are generally perceived by our brain as a warning signal.

Rancid or acrid

Another of the basic smells perceived by the human nose is rancid or acrid. This aroma is usually a bit spicy and harsh to the sense of smell. Within this category are included, for example, the smell of garlic, phosphorus, or sulfuric acid.

Rotten

These types of smells cause great rejection in a person when the nose detects them in high concentrations. They are unpleasant and penetrating. Some examples are rotten meat, wastewater, or other foods in state of decomposition.

What is an olfactory family in the world of Fragrance?

Each of the Fragrances, colognes, or scents can be classified within an olfactory family. This could be defined as a set of aromas or olfactory notes that stand out above the rest.

There are several methods that can help you classify your favorite Fragrance within an olfactory family. One of the most used is the fragrance wheel, proposed by Michael Edwards, which classifies aromas into 4 major olfactory families (floral, fresh, woody, and oriental), each one divided into other subcategories. This way it is possible to properly determine the olfactory family to which any Fragrance belongs.