Sensory Links

Rodriguez and colleagues evaluated ties between  sounds smells and tastes.  They used a literature review to determine that “Sweetness perception was reported to be associated with high pitch . . . piano timbre . . .  as well as emotionally positive music. . . . Bitterness was reported to be associated with low pitch . . . low tempo. . . and emotionally negative music. . . . Saltiness was found to be associated with staccato articulation . . . mid-pitch . . .  minor mode, low pitch, high roughness, and high tempo. . . . Sourness was discovered to have associations with high pitch . . . followed by dissonant harmony, high roughness, and staccato articulation . . . as well as high sharpness. . . fruitiness was associated with cello and piano timbre, legato articulation, and high pitch. . . . Lemon, raspberry, and menthol aromas were associated with high pitch; onion aroma with low pitch . . . and olfactory intensity with urban sounds.”

B. Rodriguez, L. Reyes, and F. Reinoso-Carvalho. 2023. “Exploring Crossmodal Associations Between Sounds and the Chemical Senses: A Systematic Review Including Interactive Visualizations.” Multisensory Research, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 725-825, https://doi.org/10.1163/22134808-bja10107