Absurd Intellectual

Following the spate of bacon posts in the past week or so, I stumbled across an article about a poll taken in Britain pertaining to peoples’ favorite (and lest favorite) scents.

For the most, part smells like baking, grass, clean sheets and fresh coffee made the “good” lists for both men and women. Unsurprisingly, vomit, body odor and garbage appeared on the other list. (I’ve reposted the combined “good” list below.)

This article made me think about my favorite smells. Although I am loath to make a definitive list of favorite anything, I can admit that I do prefer the following smells to most others: fresh-baked cinnamon buns, fresh-baked bread, theatre popcorn, the smell of the air just before it rains, frying bacon, wood smoke, fresh mown grass, barbecuing hambugers, fresh coffee and old books. There are others, I’m sure, but these come easily to mind.

TOP 20 SMELLS WHICH MAKE BRITS HAPPY

1. Freshly baked bread

2. Clean sheets

3. Freshly mown grass

4. Fresh flowers

5. Freshly ground coffee

6. Fresh air after rain fall

7. Vanilla

8. Chocolate

9. Fish and chips

10. Bacon frying

11. Roast dinner

12. Babies

13. Lemon zest

14. Lavender

15. Petrol

16. Apple and blackberry crumble in the oven

17. A freshly lit match

18. Roses

19. Party poppers

20. Rubber tyres

Note that this is the combined list and does not account for the inevitable gender differences. I’m interested in the idea of cultural variances, as well. For example, I don’t know that a similar poll of Canadians would include “fish and chips” or “party poppers” anywhere on the list.

Who has a favorite smell that might be considered odd?