Thread: does water temp effect scent?

constantly switching between cold and warm shaves.. i've noticed that my lather smells much stronger when i use cool or cold water.. hot lather shaves seem to dumb down the scent a bit.. anyone else notice this or am i just nuts?

I wouldn't say your "Nuts" but I haven't noticed this. Anything is possible. What type of soap/cream is it, or is it all of them....?

Not experienced it as I still just do hot shaves...but I know colognes behave and "smell" differently in the winter than in the summer. I think food is a good example of the idea that all the ingredients in something can be the same but the temperature effects how they balance.

Seriously, who here hasn't bit into a leftover pizza or steak? Same flavors, but the taste is different when cold.


There's some redneck logic for ya!

(Obviously, I'm the one who's nuts. Not you )

i've noticed it especially with lightly scented products.. mitchell's wool fat for one has a much more pronounced scent when i use cool water.. i'm also noticed it with ogallala bay rum soap and al's shave creams..

Well I don't know about soaps and creams but with coffee if it's too hot you lose alot of the taste so I don't doubt there is an ideal temp for this stuff too. Sounds like an experiment is in order. Who volunteers?

i'll be receiving my dirtybird scuttle in the mail tomorrow or the next day.. so i be experimenting with filling it with cold water as well as hot.. i'll keep everyone updated.

update... yeah.. i notice with mwf especially.. cool lather is much more scented than warm lather..

I'm really just speculating here, but if I recall correctly from Chem 1A/1B:
1) what we smell are chemical "esters"
2) esters are volatile, they evaporate from a substance and become airborne
3) temperature increases volatility...the higher the temp, the more esters released.

So, maybe hot lather loses it's smell more quickly than cold lather?

Just guessing....

And BTW, Victor, what's with the new "Pops" moniker? Are you a new father?

Cheers,
Paul