Flavours and fragrance brand giant Givaudan has shared news of a new scientific milestone as the company decodes how noses detect and recognise scents.
This new research into scent receptors has uncovered 20 specific human odour receptors, revealing the natural scent molecules that activate these receptors.
The human sense of smell comes from roughly 400 olfactory receptors (ORs), each ‘unlocked’ by specific scent molecules.
Givaudan claimed that, for years, scientists have been unable to study many of these ORs due to low sensitivity – but the brand giant’s new methodology means 20 of these previously ‘silent’ receptors now have known matches.
The breakthrough study enhanced receptor sensitivity by up to 100x to indicate the scent molecules detected by each OR.
This new information will allow perfumiers and fragrance developers to employ a new level of precision during scent creation.
“This progress turns receptor science into a creative edge, enabling olfactory experiences that are powerful, unique, and precisely crafted than ever before,” said Jeremy Compton, Global Head of Science and Technology, Fragrances for Givaudan.
“This pioneering research marks a turning point where smell science becomes a direct creative advantage, allowing Givaudan to lead the way in impactful, distinctive, and targeted fragrances that stand out in the market.”
Agnes Bombrun, Head of Ingredients Research Fragrance S&T, added: “For the first time, we have been able to match specific human odour receptors to the natural scents they detect, revealing that in some cases a single receptor is enough to signal a complex odour to the brain.
“This insight rewrites what we knew about olfaction, making possible the recreation of nature’s most recognisable notes with perfect fidelity, and to imagine entirely new molecules and formulations.”
Lead image credit: New Africa/Adobe Stock