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Researchers Identify Top 5 Most Offensive Odors

1/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Our brains instinctively steer us away from foul smells, a survival mechanism highlighted by researchers at the Journal of Neuroscience. Topping the list of offensive odors is the US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor, detectable even in minuscule amounts. Other notorious contenders include the pungent Vieux-Boulogne cheese, the stinky Rafflesia arnoldii flower, and the infamous durian fruit.

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Story summary

Our brains instinctively steer us away from foul smells, a survival mechanism highlighted by researchers at the Journal of Neuroscience. Topping the list of offensive odors is the US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor, detectable even in minuscule amounts. Other notorious contenders include the pungent Vieux-Boulogne cheese, the stinky Rafflesia arnoldii flower, and the infamous durian fruit.