3 ms·

I wish the artical attempted to address the "good smell" part of the title. I read this article and I didn't find it engaging... It lists some of the chemicals

I wish the artical attempted to address the "good smell" part of the title. I read this article and I didn't find it engaging... It lists some of the chemicals that cause the small. It's no suprise that there are aromatic chemicals that cause it. I would really like to know why they small good? Is it like petrichor? Childhood experiences that influence my perception?

kortex 3y ago
Vanillin, benzaldehyde, and 2-ethylhexanol are all found in edible plants, and in particular, those three smell very good. Paper is wood pulp (natively comprising lignocellulose) where the lignin has been broken down. The lignin breakdown products are primarily polyphenols (the building blocks of lignin), including vanillin and related compounds, which for whatever reason smell really good to us. The smoky smell of wood char and campfires? Polyphenols.