What's the recipe for the smell of fresh-baked bread?

[steepholm]

We know there are three primary colours, and five basic tastes (sweet, sour, salt, bitter and umami) - but I never knew that there are also seven basic smells, out of which (presumably) all the rest can be concocted, from manure to mown grass.



pepperminty
floral
ethereal (alcohol, or pears)
musky
camphoraceous (moth balls)
pungent (vinegar)
putrid (rotten eggs)

ETA Further googling reveals that this list derives from the work of John Amoore, and it's far from uncontroversial. But hey, I like it and I'm sticking with it!

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is interesting! I have to think about this!
For one thing, I'm clearly eating the wrong kind of pears :)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Hmm seems there should be more, but I'm too tired to think. Very interesting, tho.