Odor identification by males and females: predictions vs performance

Abstract

More than 200 males and females estimated the identifiability of 80 common odorous objects (e.g., chocolate, beer, mustard, rubber). The two genders agreed rather closely in their estimates. The groups also agreed closely in their relative judgements of whether males or females could identify the objects better. Both groups anticipated that males would be superior for only a small number of substances, mainly substances that seem stereotypically ‘male’ (e.g., cigar butts, beer, machine oil). The groups anticipated female superiority for not only stereotypically ‘female’ substances (e.g., Ivory soap, Johnson's baby powder, nail polish remover), but also for virtually all foods, including foods presumably consumed equally by both sexes (e.g., potato chips, Juicy Fruit gum, grape drink). The results suggested the existence of a second stereotype, namely that females will be superior at identifying all substances not clearly in the male domain. An experiment that explored the performance of 46 males and females over five sessions revealed general female superiority. The superiority extended to odors considered ‘male’. Males seemed educable and could apparently overcome their disadvantage eventually with merely some help in the retrieval of odor names. Blockage of retrieval seems a strong limiting factor in odor identification for females as well as for males. Irrespective of gender, when persons have the veridical name of a well-known odor made available by one or another means, they exhibit considerable talent at identifying objects by smell.