White smell

Weizmann Institute scientists have created a “white smell.” Think about white light or white noise: Each mixes a bunch of different waves together from various parts of the visual or audible spectrum. Those wavelengths combine such that we perceive that unobtrusive light or sound we call “white.” How do smells fit into this scenario? Prof. Noam Sobel and his group have already shown that smells have their own spectrum – ranging from pleasant to unpleasant – and that this relates to the chemical structure of the odor molecules. Is this spectrum truly analogous to that of light or sound? That…