Our favourite smell? Freshly baked bread wins by a nose
FRESHLY baked bread has come top in a poll to fi nd Britain’s 50 favourite smells.
The irresistible aroma beat bacon, newly mown grass and coffee to the title, in a survey of 2,000 adults.
Food and drink feature heavily in the list with cakes baking in the oven, a Sunday roast and fi sh and chips all making the top 10.
But there are also some more surprising entrants including new books, at number 31, petrol at 36, and matches at 37.
Paint appears at number 34 in the list, and Stuart Hobbs of decorating brand Harris, which conducted the survey, said: “It seems it’s the homely smells that are most popular with bacon, bread and freshly cut grass at the top of the list – all things that can help make a house more warm and welcoming.
“But as well as the ones almost everyone would be happy to say they love, there are a few on the list which may divide some.
“Scents like petrol, barbecues and bonfi res or cheese can be loved by some but despised by others.
Nostalgic
“Everyone wants to be surrounded by nice smells, particularly in their home, and we go to great lengths to make sure this is the case.”
More than three- quarters of those questioned said certain smells made them feel nostalgic and 60 per cent were reminded of particular people or places.
Eighty- four per cent said they always like to make sure their home smells nice and fresh, with room sprays, by opening windows and making sure that it is cleaned regularly.
At the other end of the scale, Britain’s least favourite smells are bins, drains, body odour and sewage.