How do you measure smell?

I came across a plant called the Rafflesia Arnoldi, it has the worlds largest and smelliest flower, it's also known as the Corpse plant on account of it smelling of rotten flesh. Some people actually buy these things, yuk!
That got me thinking and I asked meself how do they measure smell, is it scentibytes? I looked it up and a unit is called an 'Olf'. not a lot of people know that, I certainly didn't. Now I know why Dick Emery made a face when he used to say "Oh you are Olful", I've been called a lot of things in me day but never an 'Ole Fanger', thats the name of the chap who introduced it. Strange World isn't it.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Olf is a unit used to measure the strength of a pollution source. It was introduced by Danish professor P. Ole Fanger; the name "Olf" is derived from the Latin word olfactus, meaning "smelled".[1]
One Olf is the sensory pollution strength from a standard person defined as an average adult working in an office or similar non–industrial workplace, sedentary and in thermal comfort, with a hygienic standard equivalent of 0.7 baths per day and whose skin has a total area of 1.8 square metres. It was defined to quantify the strength of pollution sources which can be perceived by humans.

Re: How do you measure smell?

Wow, you learn something knew everyday, just wish I could remember it! Just joshing ��

Re: How do you measure smell?

I was just wondering did many folks know about the Olf AC, I suppose you would have to have some type of measurement for smells, for gas leaks, perfumes and the likes. There is an antiseptic widely used over here called TCP, if you only put a tiny drop of it on your finger (as I often have to with the cuts I get working) it can be smelt all over the pub when I go in, must be at least 2 Olf's to do that.

Re: How do you measure smell?

The TCP smell is very strong Jem ...... it tastes Olful too

Re: How do you measure smell?

It does indeed Mags, I find it's great stuff, been using it for donkeys years.

Re: How do you measure smell?

They have (or had ) one of those 'Corpse Plants' in Kew garden. It has a short flowering period and, unfortunately, chose to do it on a hot summer day when I was visiting there. Trust me - rotting corpses is an understatement - it is truly foul !

Re: How do you measure smell?

Imagine finding one of these flowers growing in your yard! Would you get rid of it or keep growing it for a conversation piece?

Re: How do you measure smell?

With an Odourometer?.

Re: How do you measure smell?

Many years ago I used to work with a bloke who had very smelly feet, smells at that workplace were measured on the Welling scale.

Re: How do you measure smell?

Same as a Smellometer.

Also known as Whiffometers, depends what part of the country you come from.