The CLIO project is an interdisciplinary study conducted in collaboration with the CNRS. Its goal is to understand how genetic, physiological, and social factors contribute to the construction of olfactory pleasure, offering a more comprehensive view of how we perceive and enjoy scents.
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: Could you introduce yourself and explain your role in the CLIO project?
Marylou Mantel: “I am currently an associate professor in neuroscience at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, within the Cognition, Health, Society (C2S) laboratory. I have been involved in the CLIO project from the start: I began as a postdoctoral researcher in the first phase, then participated as a collaborator in the second phase, and am now the coordinator at the Reims site for the third phase. My role has thus evolved from data collection and analysis to contributing to the project’s overall objectives and study protocol.”
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: Could you briefly explain what the third phase of the study involves?
M.M.: “Of course. But first, I’ll provide a quick recap of the first two phases. In the first phase, we examined the various factors that can influence olfactory pleasure. These include genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors. This first phase focused specifically on genetics to determine whether differences in genetic makeup could affect the hedonic perception of certain scents, particularly perfumes.
The second phase concentrated more on brain activity, still integrating genetic aspects, to explore how neural activity is involved in this hedonic perception. So, in this phase, we observed neural responses to scents.
In the third phase, which we’re now beginning, we are integrating the influence of social factors. For example, how others’ perceptions or feedback on a scent or perfume can affect our own perception and hedonic experience of that scent. It’s a progressive approach aimed at incorporating all the factors contributing to olfactory pleasure.”
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: What are the main findings from the first two phases that led to this focus on social aspects in the third phase?
M.M.: “In the first phase, we conducted a study with around one hundred participants, and we will continue to add more to refine the results. We focused on a specific molecule, beta-ionone, for which sensitivity varies according to genetic makeup. We found that people who are very sensitive to this molecule—who detect it easily and intensely—prefer perfumes with lower concentrations of beta-ionone. Conversely, people who are less sensitive to it and need a high concentration to perceive it tend to prefer perfumes with higher beta-ionone content. This confirms that genetics can influence hedonic preferences for certain perfumes.
The analyses are still ongoing for the second study, but we have initial indications showing that brain response to scents also varies based on genetic makeup. Therefore, the same perfumes do not elicit the same neural responses among participants, depending on their genetic variations.
This led us to the third phase: understanding that preferences may be influenced by genetics, we’re now adding a social factor. The idea is to see how preferences expressed by others can influence our own choice, especially when we know that others prefer one perfume over another.”
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: How do you combine different disciplines (genetics, neuroscience, anthropology, and social sciences) in this study?
M.M.: “I would even add psychology, which is also part of this project. We combine disciplines in various ways. The main collaborators in the project—Mustapha Ben Safi, Denis Pierron, and myself—each have our own areas of expertise. Denis Pierron brings expertise in genetics and anthropology; Moustafa Bensafi in neuroscience and psychology; and myself, in neuroscience, psychology, and social aspects, with the Reims laboratory specializing in social psychology. For the third phase, we will also recruit an expert in social psychology.
This multidisciplinary approach allows us to apply a wide range of methods and theoretical frameworks to study olfactory perception from multiple angles. Interdisciplinarity is thus at the core of the project, and this is what makes it a particularly rich and comprehensive study on olfactory pleasure.”
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: What could be the practical applications of your findings for the fragrance industry or other sectors related to olfaction?
M.M.: “This study fits within a broad field: individual differences in olfactory perception. In the fragrance, cosmetics, and even the food industry, these differences play a crucial role in consumer preferences. Many studies have already examined external factors like packaging or social context. However, few studies have looked at genetic influences on olfactory perception, especially in the field of perfumes. Our findings could therefore help professionals better understand consumer preferences, particularly regarding internal factors that affect their choices.”
Per Fumum Endowment Fund: Finally, what are the next steps for the CLIO project after this last phase?M.M.: “After this phase, we will continue to explore the hedonic perception of scents and their social aspects. We aim to delve deeper into the link between genetics and scent perception, as well as social aspects, such as the perception of body odors, for instance, or perfumes and deodorants. How do these perceptions influence our social interactions? This is an essential question, and we will continue to investigate it in our respective disciplines to further understand the influence of scents on behavior and social interactions.”
