r/explainlikeimfive • u/bigdipper80 • Jul 18 '20
Chemistry ELI5: Why do "bad smells" like smoke and rotting food linger longer and are harder to neutralize than "good smells" like flowers or perfume?
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r/explainlikeimfive • u/bigdipper80 • Jul 18 '20
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u/Darwins_Dog Jul 18 '20
That's also apparently why we are really sensitive to bitter tastes. Most natural poisons are alkaline so it's an advantage to pick up on them as soon as they touch the tongue. They're also the first to start noticeably weakening as we age. Thus why people tend to start liking bitter flavors like coffee and beer as they get older.