Perception of Everyday OdorsCorrelation between Intensity, Familiarity and Strength of Hedonic Judgement

Abstract

In this study, 40 Japanese, 44 German and 39 Mexican women were presented with 18 everyday odorants. They were asked to rate them for intensity on a six-point scale from not detectable to very strong, for pleasantness on an 11-point scale from -5, to neutral at 0, to +5, and for familiarity on a six-point scale from completely unknown to extremely familiar. Consistent positive correlations were found between paired rating scores for the three measures, and although they were not particularly strong (r(s) range, 0.19-0.60), for most odorants all three correlations were significant. Similar results were obtained whether the data were analyzed on an individual or a national basis. Most notable were the consistent positive correlations between perceived intensity and ratings of familiarity and hedonic strength. It is suggested that the perceived intensity of the odorants depended not only on stimulus concentration but probably also on experience-dependent factors.

Where is the chocolate? Rapid spatial orienting toward stimuli associated with primary rewards

“…One way to tackle this issue would be to present another odor that would be neutral enough not to constitute a primary reward but would be similarly rich to the chocolate in term perceptual characteristic. However, given the vast interindividual variability in hedonic odor perception (e.g., Delplanque et al, 2008;Distel et al, 1999;Ferdenzi et al, 2013), it appears very difficult to find a consensual neutral odor. Moreover, the learning process to associate two neutral stimuli is different from the one to associate an emotional stimulus with a neutral one.…”

Culture and odor categorization: agreement between cultures depends upon the odors

“…A first type of cross-cultural studies has investigated the effect of culture on several dimensions such as familiarity, pleasantness, intensity, and edibility for everyday odors (Aubaile Sallenave, 2000;AyabeKanamura et al, 1998;Distel et al, 1999;Pangborn, Guinard, & Davis, 1988;Song & Bell, 1998;Wysocki, Pierce, & Gilbert, 1991). The objectives of these studies were twofold: (a) to evaluate the stability of any relationship between those perceptual dimensions across different cultures and (b) to quantify the perceptual differences between cultures.…”

Sex Differences in Olfactory Behavior in Namibian and Czech Children

“…Outside the laboratory, cultural differences in reactions to odors may arise from the prevalence of that odor within that cultural context (Ferdenzi et al 2008b;Ferdenzi et al 2011). Researchers have noted cultural differences in reactions to food odors (Distel et al 1999;Hudson, 1999;Pangborn et al 1988;Schleidt et al 1988), in assessment of odors as pleasant or unpleasant (e.g. Ayabe-Kanamura et al 1998;Distel et al 1999;Pangborn et al 1988;Schleidt et al 1981), and in differential categorization of odors (Chrea et al 2004).…”

“…Researchers have noted cultural differences in reactions to food odors (Distel et al 1999;Hudson, 1999;Pangborn et al 1988;Schleidt et al 1988), in assessment of odors as pleasant or unpleasant (e.g. Ayabe-Kanamura et al 1998;Distel et al 1999;Pangborn et al 1988;Schleidt et al 1981), and in differential categorization of odors (Chrea et al 2004). Seo et al (2011) report several cross-regional differences in attitudes towards odors; for example, odor is more important in relation to emotions and memories, and is used more in day-to-day life, by Mexican respondents compared with Korean, Czech and German respondents.…”