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Weekly Edition - Published 22 May 2015

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North West folk flare their nostrils to reveal the best and worst smells

FRESHLY cut grass, bread that has just been baked and sizzling bacon are among the North West's favourite smells, a study has revealed. Researchers polled 1,000 people and found the scent of grass that has just been cut is the most popular smell, followed by bread just after it comes out of the oven, sizzling bacon and coffee. Fish and chips, a Sunday roast, cakes baking in the oven and paint also appear on the list.

There were some more unusual items to feature among the best loved smells though, with many claiming to love the whiff of rain, new books, matches and even petrol. It also emerged that drains, off putting body odour and bins are the most hated pongs.

Stuart Hobbs from decorating brand, Harris, which commissioned the survey to celebrate being rated the number 1 preferred paint brush and roller brand for home decorators, said:- "Smells are all around us and with some particularly strong ones floating around, it's no surprise we have our favourites; as well as a few we can't stand. And it seems it's the homely smells that are most popular with freshly cut grass, bread and bacon 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 bonfires or cheese can be loved by some, but despised by others. Everyone wants to be surrounded by nice smells, particularly in their own home, and we go to all sorts of lengths to make sure this is the case."

Freshly washed clothes and the smell of the seaside also feature high on the list while the aroma given off by a real Christmas tree completes the top 10.  Fresh flowers were voted into 11th place, with roses, vanilla, lavender, scented candles and cinnamon following close behind. Barbecues, chocolate, lemon, freshly washed hair, log fires, babies, the smell of a new car, a freshly cleaned house, rain, leather and aftershave completed the top 20.

Food and drink smells feature heavily with orange, coconut, Christmas cake, lime and doughnuts proving popular with the region. Cherry, marzipan, popcorn and wine also made the top 50. Homely smells are extremely well loved with the scent of a freshly cleaned house, fresh paint, new carpets and the fragrance of a newly built house all among the best loved.  But at the other end of the scale, body odour and drains were named the most disliked pongs, along with bins, sewage, vomit and rotten milk. Rotting food, public toilets, nappies and garlic breath completed the top ten. The worst smells also feature manure, sports changing rooms and fish.

Researchers found that 6 in 10 believe there are certain smells that remind them of particular people or places, while another 7 in 10 associate a smell with a memory. 75% even have smells which make them feel nostalgic. 83% also said they always like to make sure their home smells nice and fresh, with room sprays, by opening windows and making sure it's cleaned regularly the most popular ways to keep a house smelling nice.

Stuart added:- "In addition to being rated the UK's number one paintbrush and roller brand, we have also been voted the best quality and most reliable paintbrush brand in the UK. To commemorate this, we have been working with top Fragrance house, Scent Perfique, to create our own unique scent of home for our retailers to spritz when shoppers are making important home decisions about decorating. We thought finding out the nation's favourite smells will ensure we get the smell right. So many of the top smells are associated with home which really confirms to us that home is where the heart is."

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