How does it Smell?

I was so excited when my pure raw cocoa butter came in. I opened it immediately and breathed in the irresistible chocolaty aroma. Oh, did I ever have to share that treasure with everyone in reach! And then..I ran into trouble. I discovered that the scent would drive my mother off and give my oldest daughter an immediate headache. Matter of fact, my oldest likened the smell of the stuff to the scent of dried dead mouse. I was appalled. How could I and several others liken the scent to chocolate? Olfactory perceptions vary from one creature to another in amusing ways sometimes. Perceptions have a genetic component too:http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.2096  Of course the scope of the application exceeds the odor of cilantro. And then there are situations of olfactory compromise that are serious: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smelltaste/pages/smell.aspx Some of these are linked to genetic causes. Some scents are more widely agreed upon as pleasant and others are more culturally associated with pleasant. So genetics, training and experiences influence the way we perceive olfactory input. http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/suppl_1/i250.long  http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/1/31.abstract Isn't all of this so fascinating? I have noticed there is more consensus on what smells downright awful than on what smells universally pleasant. I have yet to find anyone that just loves the odor of  bubbling sewage and most everyone I have encountered has nothing negative to say about the scent of roses. Another delightful thought is about how our neurons are actually sampling molecules so that our brains can determine whether something 'smells good' or not. Here's a little slide show about it: http://www.slideshare.net/svimsneurology/anatomy-of-olfactory-system Makes me cringe a little when I think of encountering sewage and the accompanying smell. I'd rather my dendrites just left those molecules alone! Cocoa butter? It's not for everyone, but I sure do love it. I think my dendrites might be hooked on that scent.