Odour preferences of children and adults across four diverse cultures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania
8 affiliations
- 1The International Institute for Mental Health, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2IDN Being Human Lab - Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
- 3School of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- 4Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- 5Department of Biochemistry, Azra Naheed Medical College, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan
- 6Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
- 7Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- 8Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Abstract
Odour perception plays a crucial role in various processes, yet the extent to which odour preferences are universal or shaped by cultural and ecological contexts remains debated. While some studies report substantial cross-cultural agreement in odour pleasantness, others highlight considerable variability. To address this question from a novel perspective, we collected data from 394 children and adults (aged 3–81) across four distinct cultures (Hadza, Pakistani, Dani, and Scottish). Participants rated the pleasantness and familiarity of 11 odours (Fish, Garlic, Butter, Ginger, Thyme, Cinnamon, Banana, Peach, Strawberry, Jasmine, Butanol). We observed both variability and agreement in odour pleasantness ratings across cultures, but overall, there was a similar level of agreement across age groups within each culture. Furthermore, the most pleasant odours (Jasmine, Strawberry, Peach) were rated more consistently across cultures than the most unpleasant ones (Fish, Garlic, Butter). Finally, familiarity was strongly and positively associated with pleasantness. These findings suggest that while some universal consensus in odour evaluation exists, ecological and cultural influences, as well as individual differences, may all play a substantial role in shaping olfactory perception.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7.
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BibTeX
@article{kowal2026odour,
title = {{Odour preferences of children and adults across four diverse cultures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania}},
author = {Marta Kowal and Piotr Sorokowski and S. Craig Roberts and Marina Butovskaya and Syed Imran Ali Shah and Wiktoria Jędryczka and Kateřina Roberts and Oana David and Michal Pieniak and Thomas Hummel and Agnieszka Sorokowska},
journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin \& Review},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Odour preferences of children and adults across four diverse cultures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania
AU - Marta Kowal
AU - Piotr Sorokowski
AU - S. Craig Roberts
AU - Marina Butovskaya
AU - Syed Imran Ali Shah
AU - Wiktoria Jędryczka
AU - Kateřina Roberts
AU - Oana David
AU - Michal Pieniak
AU - Thomas Hummel
AU - Agnieszka Sorokowska
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
DO - 10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7
AB - Odour perception plays a crucial role in various processes, yet the extent to which odour preferences are universal or shaped by cultural and ecological contexts remains debated. While some studies report substantial cross-cultural agreement in odour pleasantness, others highlight considerable variability. To address this question from a novel perspective, we collected data from 394 children and adults (aged 3–81) across four distinct cultures (Hadza, Pakistani, Dani, and Scottish). Participants rated the pleasantness and familiarity of 11 odours (Fish, Garlic, Butter, Ginger, Thyme, Cinnamon, Banana, Peach, Strawberry, Jasmine, Butanol). We observed both variability and agreement in odour pleasantness ratings across cultures, but overall, there was a similar level of agreement across age groups within each culture. Furthermore, the most pleasant odours (Jasmine, Strawberry, Peach) were rated more consistently across cultures than the most unpleasant ones (Fish, Garlic, Butter). Finally, familiarity was strongly and positively associated with pleasantness. These findings suggest that while some universal consensus in odour evaluation exists, ecological and cultural influences, as well as individual differences, may all play a substantial role in shaping olfactory perception. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-026-02984-7.
SN - 1069-9384
SN - 1531-5320
ER -