Why do we smell bad odors?

　How do humans distinguish good smells from bad smells? In fact, so-called “good smells and bad smells” are identified based on our life experiences. Some odors, considered to be bad smells, such as rotting smell, moldy smell, damp clothes smell, cigarette smell, and ammonia smell, are perceived as good smells by some people. However, in general, such smells are often referred to as “bad smells” and are often avoided. So, what should we do about such “bad smells”?

How to eliminate bad smells

■Seal up the source of the stench. /Absorb it onto something else.

　For example, for garbage smell, there is a way to get rid of the stench by putting garbage in a small bag and throwing it away immediately instead of waiting the bag to be full. However, even if you use a plastic bag, the odor molecules will slip through the bag. In such cases, use the bags to throw away baby diapers and such, considerably reduce the garbage odor. If you have room in your freezer, you can also put the garbage in the freezer before it decomposes. For odors wafting around the room, you can use two ventilation systems, wave around wet towels to absorb the odor components, or place charcoal to absorb the odor.

■Masking with scents

　Masking is a method of camouflaging bad odors with fragrances. However, some people may not like that the cause of the odor is still there. However, did you know that some fragrance products actually contain fragrances that are considered to be bad smells? For example, there is a fragrance called castoreum. This is the anal secretion of beavers, and when smelled by itself, it produces a foul odor known as fecal odor. However, when it is diluted and mixed with other fragrances, the aroma is deepened and becomes very pleasant. In addition to covering the bad odors with a strong smell, adding other fragrances in this way to harmonize the smell and makes it smell good, which is called “masking” to reduce odors.

It is also important to remove the cause from the source

　As mentioned in the introduction, the perception of “good/bad smells” varies from person to person. In addition, the smell you smell when you visit other people’s homes is difficult for the people who live there to notice. This is said to be a “phenomenon of habituation” called “adaptation.” Smells are also generated from places that are unnoticeable. One way to eliminate the cause of the odor is look around the room and see if there are any areas that are dirty with oil or not well cleaned, and clean those areas. Then use your favorite reed diffuser or other fragrance products to fill your room with lovely scents.