Have you ever gotten into an argument with someone about a scent that you find exquisite, but they find intolerable?

Maybe you feel that a certain perfume that many admire is a little... uncomfortable for you. The answer to these differences has a lot to do with your genes.

In the exquisite art of perfumery, the sense of smell is the protagonist. In the same way that we perceive colours through three types of visual receptors, the sense of smell operates on a notably more complex level: our nose contains around 400 types of olfactory receptors, each associated with a gene. These genes are unique to each person, and this genetic diversity affects how each person experiences odours.

Why is Smell So Personal?

Recent studies have been devoted to exploring the genetics of olfactory perception. In one of them, people were exposed to 10 different aromas. Four of these smells – barley, apple, blue cheese and violet – were shown to have a deep genetic basis in their perception. What is fascinating is that these smells are independent of each other: that is, a person with an exquisite sensitivity to the floral aroma of violet might not have the same level of perception to the sweetness of apple.

The difference in olfactory sensitivity makes each aromatic experience unique. This phenomenon helps to understand why someone may perceive a certain “soapy” aroma in cilantro while another person perceives only fresh notes. The perception of cilantro, in fact, is one of the most interesting expressions of this relationship between genetics and perception as it generates much controversy among those who discover the differences.

Smell: An Inherited Legacy

Olfactory perception is largely a family inheritance. Just as we inherit the colour of our eyes or the tone of our skin, our olfactory receptors are also passed down from parents to children. This genetic inheritance means that preferences and aversions towards certain aromas can have an ancestral origin. If your parents detect the bitter aroma in coriander and find it unpleasant, it is very likely that you will experience the same, due to the same genes that manage the olfactory receptors.

This olfactory legacy not only shapes our preference or rejection of certain everyday aromas, but also influences how we perceive the world of perfume, making this experience possibly a reflection of our lineage.

Genetics and Olfactory Experience: Some Examples

One of the most intriguing examples of olfactory perception is the molecule androstenone, a pheromone found in wild boars that some people describe as woody and pleasant, while others detect an unpleasant urine-like odor; and still others simply do not perceive it at all. The explanation for this variation also lies in genetics.

Similarly, in the case of cilantro, perception can vary depending on the expression of a particular olfactory receptor gene, which determines whether a person will detect that soapy hint or its freshness.

On the other hand, we find violet, which smells fragrant and floral to people with a heightened sense, while less sensitive people describe the aroma as unpleasantly sour and acidic.

This phenomenon has a parallel gene related to the perception of bitter taste, and reflects how each olfactory note can evoke such a unique response in each individual.

In perfumery, this rich genetic diversity is a treasure, as it allows for the creation of complex fragrances that capture in a single experience the essence of different sensory worlds.

Choosing Perfumes and Olfactory Preferences

Our sense of smell, besides helping us distinguish aromas, is deeply intertwined with our emotions and memories. This is why perfumes are not just a series of notes; they are a deeply personal, even emotional experience.

Variations in our olfactory receptors not only influence the intensity of aromas, but also determine how they are perceived. This uniqueness explains why two people can describe the same perfume with very different words.

But each neuron has only one type of odor receptor, meaning it can detect only odors that have the right structure.

Perfumers, aware of the genetic diversity in smell, seek to create fragrances that embrace a spectrum of notes, in an effort to resonate with different olfactory sensibilities.

As technology advances, we can expect increasingly personalized perfumes, tailored not only to preferences, but also to the genetic profile of the user.

A Unique Olfactory Journey

Next time you choose a perfume, don't forget that the way that scent envelops you is as unique as your genetic fingerprint.

We invite you to explore freely, to experiment and to immerse yourself in the olfactory journey knowing that each fragrance that attracts or displeases you is an expression of your genetic code .

Finally, the world of perfumes is as diverse and unique as each individual who discovers it.