An odour is a chemical molecule (or chemical mixture) in gaseous form emitted by nature, micro-organisms or product formulations.
We perceive them via the synapses in our nose that transmit a message to our brain to tell us their main characteristics. The definition of an odour is very subjective and remains very variable according to individuals: we are more or less sensitive to odours and it depends on our environment and our lifestyle.
In our modern societies, we are conditioned by olfactory cues from the chemical industry. Most of them are harmful to our health, but we consider them beneficial because they “smell good“.
The odours are linked to the chemical functional groups present: ketoenolic, aromatic groups, mercaptans, presence of sulphur or other atoms…
An allergen is a substance, with an organic body (atom, molecule, protein) or not, capable of causing an allergic reaction in a subject. It is often transported or present on a particle: dust, spores or pollen. Allergies are triggered by skin contact, ingestion or inhalation of the allergenic compound.
Example:
By abuse of language, some people say they are allergic to cat hair. In reality, they are allergic to the glycoproteins Fel d 1 and Fel d 4. Depending on temperature and pressure, the molecule will migrate into the air. It is the air we breathe that will put us in contact with the allergen.
Actually, this allergen is a chemical molecule that the cat needs to clean itself. This protein is emitted naturally, like the one contained in pollens, dust mites, spores… But the modern petrochemical world has generated chemical pollutants, not natural ones, which make us sensitive and therefore allergic to naturally occurring compounds. This applies to most airborne allergies.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.