How interesting. I would add the universal smells of sulpher, and mammal waste material. Two repugnant ones.

I would have coffee on the top of my list, too. I'd squeeze in skunk somewhere around the end. That's an unforgettable smell. LOL

Sorry, meant.....sulfur.

I am with pawsitive. You definately know a skunk when you smell one. vique

I don't think dry cat food is all that distinctive a smell.

I'd have to add roses. They come in a variety of scents, but mostÂespecially the damasks and other old rosesÂare very recognizable.

I think Vanilla should be on the list. Maybe marijuana too (I think most peeps who grew up during the 70's would recognize that smell).

I never thought of beer as having a noticeable smell (unless it has been spilled all over someone). I mean you'd never walk into a bar and say "Gosh, it smells like beer in here." lol

I would think wood burning smoke, as in Woodstove, Fireplace or Campfire.

Or gasoline?

I'll be in the minority but, I'll have to add the smell of roasting chiles.

Ron

I'm with Alisande - I'd leave off cat food and add roses. I also think onions being sauteed is a very pleasant and distinctive scent.

~Betsy

I do know that play doh is one scent that brings relaxing childhood memories.
Sniffed any play doh lately?

I gave a can to everybody in my office one year and they all had so much fun with it!

Trin

I don't see "wet dog" on the list. I'm suspicious. LOL

Add skunks and roses.

Did we forget garlic?

I'd cancel dry cat food--

Add-Puppy Breath--skunk--Vanilla--garlic--cigarette smoke

Donna (^_^)

Freshly-mown grass and baking bread!
JoanMN

I agree with playdough, add bacon.

How about pizza or a good old fashioned jar of paste? Do they even sell it anymore?? I don't think so. Does anyone remember the smell of school papers fresh off the mimeograph?? It wouldn't make the list. but I used to sniff my work papers and my paste LOL!

Casey..........this is so interesting!

"Cigarette smoke" is NOT mentioned and that is something everyone complains about!

Personally.........I THINK "personal body odor" is far more offensive than cigarettes!!!!!!

Cat food?? How weird and not mention vanilla or lilac or rose.

They didn't refer to "offensive" - the criterion was "most recognized".

ole joyful

I agree with all the votes for skunk!

What about popcorn,damp earth,ammonia and lumber?

Lydia1959 said: I mean you'd never walk into a bar and say "Gosh, it smells like beer in here."

I do. I hate going into a bar that reeks of beer. The places that really reek are those that sell tap beer. It's messier and get spilled more. Also tap beer is not pasteurized so it spoils in no time, and starts to stink as soon as it gets warm and reacts with air.

I don't know if that list should be titled "The 20 Most Recognized Scents In The World. A lot of those things on the list are brand name items or things that are manufactured items not available everywhere. Other items on the list are things not indigenous to most areas and many people would never have experienced the scent so would not be able to recognize it or name it.

My first thought was McDonald's french fries. That's a worldwide company. My next thought was crayons.

What about coconut?

This could probably go on forever! LOL

I don't know anything about cat food, so I'd replace it with popcorn.

I can't believe garlic isn't listed.....every country uses it!

RAIN!

I'm also puzzled by cat food. I smell it daily when I feed my cats, but I think I could confuse it with other smells. It's not a pleasant smell, but I don't think it's unique.

I cannot stand the smell of beer. Or cigarettes. Therefore, I do not go into bars. ;o) If I took that scent test, sniffing beer would make me gag, I'd know it right away.

Coffee, though, would give me a happy feeling, I'd know it, too. I probably look a little goofy going down the coffee isle of the grocery store. Breathing deep and grinning, eyes roll and close... yeah, I probably look like I've got a buzz. I feel better just walking through the door of a coffee shop. I'm such a junkie.

Rotting dead fish. Gagging odor!

That can't be the WHOLE world--just the developed world. I don't think they have dry cat food in many parts of the world.

No lavender, gardenia, bougainvillea....

No baby poop...

and has been mentioned before, no wood smoke, rotting meat, rotten eggs...

Those are pretty universal. I wouldn't think many people in China smelled Vicks VaporRub.