New smell discovered – nasal equivalent of “white noise” sound

In a recent study, scientists have discovered a new smell dubbed “olfactory white” because it’s the nasal equivalent of “white noise” (which sounds like a whooshing hum). Just as white noise is a mixture of many different sound frequencies and white light is a mixture of many different wavelengths, olfactory white is a mixture of many different smelly compounds.

The scientists wrote:

“Olfactory white is a distinct smell, caused not by specific compounds but by certain mixes of compounds. The key is that the compounds are all of equal intensity and that they span the full range of human smells.”

And what does it smell like? Participants in the study rated it right in the middle for both pleasantness and edibility.  Yeah, it’s bland.