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An odor is the object of perception of the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells. The terms stench or taste is used to describe an unpleasant odor. The term fragrance is used by the homegoods 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":
Odors that are mostly perceived as "unpleasant":
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 beeThis article is about the insect. For the character B, see B. Andrenidae Anthophoridae Apidae Colletidae Ctenoplectridae Halictidae Heterogynaidae Megachilidae Melittidae Oxaeidae Sphecidae Stenotritidae Bees Apoidea superfamily) are flying insects, closes more than a kilometer away.
Pheromonehoneybee exposes Nasinov gland (white-at tip of abdomen) releasing pheromone to entice swarm into an empty hive A pheromone is any chemical produced by a living organism that transmits a message to other members of the same species. There are alarm pheroms are odors that are deliberately used for communication. A female moth may release a pheromone that can entice a male moth from several kilometers. HoneybeeThe honeybee is a colonial insect that is often maintained, fed, and transported by farmers. Honeybees are a subset of bees which fall into the Order Hymenoptera and Suborder Apocrita. There are about 20,000 species of bees which exist all around the worl queens constantly are releasing pheromones that regulate the activity of the hiveHives is the name given to a common form of allergic reaction. A hive is also the common name for a colony of bees or for the shelter built for or by the bees. See beehive. In science-fiction, many extraterrestrial species build or live in hives; examples. 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.There are hopes that smelling machines could do everything from test perfumes to help detect cancer, but as yet artificial noses are still quite inadequate.