The preference of a fragrance created by a perfumer is associated with one single-nucleotide polymorphism in OR5A1 gene
From ancient incense to Chanel No. 5, perfumes are almost ubiquitous across the world and across history yet highly diverse. While they reflect the artistry of the creator and the personality of the wearer, the neurobiological processes driving fragrance preference are unknown. Recent research demonstrated that genetic variability in olfactory receptors modulates odor perception; however, regarding the preference for complex real-world stimuli, the relative importance of peripheral sensory encoding versus top-down cognitive evaluation--shaped by individual life history--remains a subject of debate. Here, we evaluate whether the perception of a commercially available fragrance depends on genetics, using the example of beta-ionone, a molecule routinely used in perfume composition, whose perception and appreciation have been linked to a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the OR5A1 gene (rs691536). A total of 168 participants rated their preference for three versions of a perfume designed by a professional perfumer, differing only in the concentration of {beta}-ionone used in the formula. Results showed that carriers of the G allele rated the 0% {beta}-ionone fragrance significantly higher than the 10% and 50% versions, while AA homozygotes showed no discrimination between the perfumes. By focusing on just one SNP (among hundreds of olfactory genes) and a single molecule, this study offers a proof of concept regarding the influence of genetics on aesthetic fragrance appreciation, advocating for the integration of genomic data to better understand the global diversity of perfume preferences.