Fear not, gentle reader, that the days of smelling that oh-so-familiar smell are behind you now that the Fort Frances paper mill is coming down. Entrepreneurial souls from across the smell-o-verse are enterprising to ensure your olfactory organ will still revel in that most singular of scents thanks to their dedication, hard work, and the singular sensation that is science.
Disheartened as the rest of town residents have been at the news and sights of the demolition of the Abitibi/Bowater/Resolute mill complex, olfaction scientist Dr. Molly Cule of the International Scent and Smell Association (ISSA) has been hard at work developing a line of smelly household products that will perfectly emulate the smells that once wafted from areas of the mill.
The smell originates from a process called kraft pulping, in which heat and chemicals are used to process wood chips into pulp for paper making. One effect of that process is the creation of smelly substances called total reduced sulphur gas or as the pros would call it, “TRS gasses.” Like many sulphurous compounds, the chemical lends itself to a delightful and distinguished eggy smell, like a hardboiled egg left in the sun for a few days, or your golden retriever’s coat after he’s rolled around in a batch of sauerkraut.
Cule, who herself has visited the municipality on a handful of occasions, said she paid close attention to the smell during her stays, and noted that local residents were quite fond of it.
“Being someone obsessed with scents, I would remark on the particular aroma to people who had lived in town all their lives,” Cule remarked.
“Almost everyone would know exactly what I was talking about. They would often share stories of coming home from time spent away and smelling the TRS gasses again. It always sounded to me like they missed it and were delighted some time on vacation had refreshed their olfactory receptors so that the compound was more apparent.”
Once Cule learned that the mill had been deigned for demolition, she said she immediately sprung into action.
“I thought to myself, ‘these people truly love that smell,’ so I decided I would do what I could to keep it alive,” Cule said.
The process has been a difficult one. While the TRS gasses themselves are part of the smelly equation, there are other components in the paper making process like ammonia and organic compounds that influence the final aroma. The challenge has been in balancing out those chemicals and local environmental factors that made the Fort Frances mill smell unique.
“We’ve had to track down specific trees that have grown in the area,” Cule said.
“We’ve used fresh water straight from Rainy Lake and collected a number of biological components like soil microorganisms, tree fungi and even certain bug eggs and larva to make sure that what goes into the scent at the beginning of the process is as close as possible to what would have gone into the mill.”
The results, she shared, have been staggering.
“The first time I sampled the now-final scent, my eyes started to water,” Cule said.
“Not only was it a very powerful smell, but I instantly recognized it as the specific Fort Frances mill smell. I thought, ‘if it makes me this happy, just wait until the people of Fort Frances take a whiff.’”
Wanting only to make sure the smell would please even the most discerning of Fort Francescian noses, Cule brought the scent to famed French perfumer Pierre Puer, who told her it was as close as a 99 percent exact match to the original mill smell.
Now that the scent has been finalized, Cule said it will be applied to a wide range of products to allow every person in Fort Frances a chance to keep the smell of by-gone days close to home.
“We’re working on producing car air fresheners, aerosol sprays for the home, underarm anti-perspirants and even scented markers for kids,” Cule said.
“So far I haven’t heard back from any of the area businesses in Fort Frances about carrying these products, but I’m sure once they realize what it is we’re offering, the offers will come pouring in and Fort Frances will finally smell again.”
