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CROSS-SENSORY INDEX

What does a smell sound like?

These sound associations are editorial language tools—not claims that smell literally has sound. They help make sensory identity easier to imagine and compare.

001A distant drip
Wet Stonemineral · cool · clean
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002A grinder starting
Coffeeroasted · warm · bitter
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003A sharp snap
Orange Peelcitrus · bright · bitter
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004Bakery paper opening
Cinnamon Rollbaked · sweet · spicy
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005Baking dish set down
Baked Applefruity · warm · sweet
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006Ball bounce
Sports Hallrubbery · warm
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007Bark touched by hand
Pine Resinresinous · green · woody
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008Beach bag zip
Sunscreencreamy · cosmetic · warm
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009Bell and rail
Tram Interiormetallic
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010Bottle cap opened
Detergentclean · fresh · concentrated
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011Bottle opened
Vinegarsharp · sour · acidic
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012Box opened
Cardboardpaper · dry · woody
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013Bread on grill
Grilled Breadtoasted · warm · dry
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014Bundle unwrapped
Fresh Herb Bundleherbal · green · fresh
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015Cabin ventilation
Airplane Cabindry · clean
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016Can opened
Tennis Ballrubbery · fuzzy
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017Car door closing
New Carclean · synthetic
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018Cars and echoes
Parking Garageconcrete · rubbery · industrial
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019Cars on wet road
Asphalt After Rainwet · mineral · dark
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020Carts and tools
Hardware Storeindustrial · woody
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021Chairs moving
Classroompaper · woody · dry
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022Chocolate snap
Dark Chocolateroasted · bitter · dark
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023Cinema foyer
Cinema Popcornbuttery · toasted · warm
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024City traffic
Taxi Interiorfabric · plastic
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025Clean bite
Applefruity · fresh · green
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026Clean fruit bite
Pearfruity · fresh · sweet
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027Clean snap
Peppermintminty · cool · sharp
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028Clothes hangers moving
Vintage Clothing Shopfabric · dry · dusty
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029Coat brushed
Winter Coatfabric · dry · warm
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030Coat hung to dry
Wet Wooldamp · animalic · soft
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031Computer fan
Warm Electronicswarm · plastic · dry
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032Construction site
Fresh Concretemineral · wet · alkaline
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033Cork pulled
Corkdry · woody · earthy
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034Crust crackle
Fresh Breadbaked · warm · toasted
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035Cup set down
Black Teadry · warm · aromatic
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036Cups and cutlery
Hotel Breakfastwarm · coffee
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037Dishwasher opened
Dishwasher Steamwarm · humid · clean
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038Distant rain and street
Open Window After Rainfresh · wet · airy
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039Distant surf
Sea Airsalty · airy · mineral
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040Dog shaking water
Wet Doganimalic · damp · warm
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041Door chime
Elevatormetallic · clean
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042Door closing
Hotel Roomclean · soft · fabric
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043Drawer opened
New Furniturewoody · fabric
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044Drops from canopy
Wet Forestdamp · earthy · green
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045Drops from leaves
Garden After Rainwet · green · earthy
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046Dry grass rustle
Haydry · grassy · warm
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047Dry leaves moving
Eucalyptusaromatic · green · sharp
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048Dryers turning
Laundromatclean · warm · humid
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049Empty room
New Apartmentclean
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050Engine and stops
Bus Interiorfabric · rubbery
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051Fabric folding
Fresh Laundryclean · soft · airy
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052Fabric in a breeze
Clean Linenclean · airy · soft
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053Fabric unfolded
Cottonsoft · clean · dry
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054Fire crackle
Wood Smokesmoky · dry · warm
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055Fire crackle
Campfiresmoky · warm · woody
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056First drops on dry ground
Petrichorearthy · mineral · wet
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057Floorboard creak
Old Atticdusty · dry · woody
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058Forest floor underfoot
Mushroomearthy · damp · savoury
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059Fruit cut open
Watermelonfruity · watery · fresh
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060Fruit cut open
Pineapplefruity · tropical · sweet
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061Fruit popped from stem
Grapefruity · fresh · sweet
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062Fruit sliced
Strawberryfruity · sweet · fresh
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063Fruit sliced
Peachfruity · sweet · soft
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064Fruit sliced
Mangofruity · tropical · sweet
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065Fruit stem pulled
Cherryfruity · sweet · tart
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066Fuel pump click
Gasolinesharp · volatile · industrial
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067Glass poured
Fresh Milkdairy · creamy · soft
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068Grinder and conversation
Coffee Shopcoffee · warm · roasted
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069Hair brushed
Hairsoft · clean · warm
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070Hair dryer
Hair Saloncosmetic · clean · warm
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071Hands shaping clay
Clayearthy · mineral · damp
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072Herb rubbed by hand
Rosemaryherbal · resinous · green
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073Herbs chopped
Thymeherbal · green · dry
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074Hooves and hay
Stablehay · animalic · woody
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075Husk peeled
Fresh Cornsweet · green · grain
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076Ice in glass
Lemonadecitrus · fresh · sweet
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077Indoor pool echo
Chlorine / Poolsharp · clean · chemical
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078Insects and leaves
Summer Gardengreen · floral · warm
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079Iron over fabric
Ironed Shirtfabric · warm · dry
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080Jar opened
Peanut Butternutty · roasted · warm
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081Juice poured
Fresh Orange Juicecitrus · juicy · fresh
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082Kernels popping
Popcorntoasted · warm · grain
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083Kettle and cups
Morning Kitchenwarm · fresh
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084Keyboard and ventilation
Officepaper · dry
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085Knife on board
Cheesedairy · savoury · rich
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086Knife on board
Onionpungent · sharp · savoury
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087Knife on chopping board
Garlicpungent · savoury · sharp
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088Knife through butter
Buttercreamy · rich · soft
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089Large quiet interior
Church Incenseresinous · smoky · warm
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090Large quiet interior
Old Churchwoody · waxy · dry
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091Leaf brushed
Sageherbal · dry · green
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092Leaf crunch
Dry Leavesdry · leafy · papery
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093Leaf rubbed between fingers
Mintherbal · green · cool
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094Leaves torn by hand
Basilgreen · herbal · aromatic
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095Leaves underfoot
Autumn Leavesleafy · earthy · dry
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096Light glass chime
Bergamotcitrus · green · aromatic
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097Light metallic ring
Metalmetallic · cool · sharp
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098Low fire crackle
Fireplacesmoky · warm · woody
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099Low gallery hush
Museumdry · paper
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100Low lobby ambience
Hotel Lobbyclean · soft
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101Low room hum
Old Basementdamp · dusty · cool
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102Low room hush
Librarypaper · dry · woody
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103Low wood resonance
Cedarwoody · dry · warm
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104Match struck
Candle Waxwaxy · soft · warm
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105Metal touched
Cold Metal Railmetallic · cold · sharp
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106Mower fading away
Cut Grassgreen · fresh · leafy
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107Muted winter street
Snow / Cold Aircold · clean · airy
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108Needles underfoot
Pine Needlesgreen · resinous · woody
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109Night garden quiet
Jasminefloral · lush · sweet
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110Nut cracked
Almondnutty · dry · soft
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111Nutmeg grated
Nutmegspicy · warm · dry
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112Nuts stirred in pan
Toasted Almondsnutty · toasted · warm
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113Open window
Freshly Cleaned Roomclean · fresh · airy
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114Outdoor market chatter
Farmers Marketfresh · green · fruity
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115Packaging flex
Plasticsynthetic · clean
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116Pages and footsteps
Bookstorepaper · dry · woody
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117Pages folded
Newspaperpaper · dry · inky
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118Pan sizzling
Fried Onionssavory · warm · sweet
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119Pans and ventilation
Restaurant Kitchenwarm · savory
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120Paper wrapping
Florist Shopfloral · green · fresh
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121Peel opening
Bananafruity · sweet · soft
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122Peel torn
Grapefruit Peelcitrus · bitter · bright
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123Pencil sharpener
Pencil Shavingswoody · dry · clean
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124Pepper grinder
Black Pepperspicy · pungent · dry
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125Powder spooned
Cocoa Powdercocoa · dry · bitter
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126Printer running
Printer Paperpaper · dry · clean
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127Pump dispenser
Hand Sanitizersharp · volatile · clean
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128Quick zest scrape
Lemon Zestcitrus · bright · sharp
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129Quiet close space
Skinsoft · warm · subtle
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130Quiet corridor
Hospital Corridorclean · cool
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131Quiet kitchen
Vanilla Beansweet · warm · soft
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132Quiet purr
Cat Furanimalic · soft · warm
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133Quiet retail counter
Pharmacyclean · paper
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134Quiet room
Dustdry · powdery · muted
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135Quiet woodland
Mossgreen · damp · earthy
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136Rails and carriage movement
Train Carriagefabric · metallic
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137Rain and traffic
Rainy Bus Stopwet · metallic · cool
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138Rain on fabric
Raincoatwet · cool
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139Rain on pavement
Rain on Concretewet · mineral · cool
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140Rain through trees
Rainy Parkwet · green · earthy
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141Rice cooker opened
Cooked Ricegrain · warm · soft
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142Roller on wall
New Paintsharp · fresh · chemical
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143Rolling luggage
Airportclean · dry
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144Root grated
Gingerspicy · fresh · sharp
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145Running tap
Kitchen Sinkclean · water · metallic
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146Running water
Soapclean · fresh · soft
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147Sauce simmering
Tomato Saucesavory · warm · acidic
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148Saw and sanding
Woodshopwoody · dry · fresh
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149Saw on timber
Fresh Woodwoody · fresh · dry
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150Sheets unfolded
Fresh Bedsheetsclean · soft · fabric
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151Shell cracked
Coconutcreamy · sweet · tropical
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152Shoe box opened
New Shoesrubbery · synthetic
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153Shopping cart
Supermarket Producefresh · green · fruity
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154Shopping cart and paper
Grocery Bakery Aislebaked · warm
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155Shower water
Shampooclean · cosmetic · fresh
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156Shutters and traffic
Morning Streetfresh · cool
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157Slow pour
Honeysweet · floral · warm
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158Slow pour
Maple Syrupsweet · warm · caramelized
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159Soft container shake
Baby Powderpowdery · soft · clean
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160Soft creak
Leatherdry · warm · dark
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161Soft earth underfoot
Soilearthy · damp · mineral
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162Soft fabric movement
Rosefloral · petal · green
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163Soft field breeze
Lavenderaromatic · floral · herbal
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164Soft footsteps
Fresh Carpetfabric
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165Soft rainfall
Rainwet · mineral · cool
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166Soggy box handled
Wet Cardboarddamp · paper · earthy
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167Spice jar opened
Clovespicy · warm · sweet
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168Spice jar opening
Cinnamonspicy · warm · sweet
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169Spice tin opened
Curry Spice Blendspicy · warm · aromatic
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170Spoon in bowl
Vanilla Ice Creamcreamy · sweet · vanilla
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171Spoon in cup
Yogurtdairy · creamy · tangy
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172Spring garden
Lilacfloral · soft · sweet
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173Stalls opening
Flower Marketfloral · green · fresh
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174Stem snap
Tomato Leafgreen · leafy · sharp
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175Sugar bubbling
Caramelsweet · caramelized · warm
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176Sugar spooned
Brown Sugarsweet · warm · soft
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177Summer traffic
Hot Pavementwarm · dry · mineral
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178Tap running
Toothpasteminty · clean · cool
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179Tea steeping
Chamomileherbal · soft · floral
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180Toaster pop
Toasttoasted · warm · dry
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181Toaster pop
Burnt Toastburnt · dry · bitter
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182Tool drawer
Garageindustrial · rubbery · metallic
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183Towels folded
Fresh Towelsclean · soft · warm
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184Train braking
Subway / Metrometallic · dusty · industrial
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185Trays and conversation
School Cafeteriawarm · cooked
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186Trays and paper bags
Bakerybaked · warm · toasted
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187Turning pages
Old Bookpaper · dry · woody
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188Tyre on road
Rubberrubbery · dark · warm
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189Umbrella closing
Umbrella After Rainwet · fabric · metallic
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190Warm garden evening
Gardeniafloral · creamy · lush
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191Water and dishes
Dish Soapclean · fresh · citrus
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192Water and ventilation
Hotel Bathroomclean · humid · soap
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193Water over rocks
Seaweedmarine · salty · green
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194Watering and fans
Greenhousegreen · humid · earthy
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195Waves breaking
Ocean Spraysalty · fresh · airy
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196Waves nearby
Beach Towelfabric · salty · warm
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197Wind through trees
Pine Forestgreen · resinous · woody
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198Wooden surface tapped
Oak Woodwoody · dry · warm
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199Zip opened
Pencil Casedry · plastic
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200Zip opened
Backpackfabric · paper · stored
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EVIDENCE STATUS

Sound associations are CULTURAL / editorial unless a specific future study or community dataset is attached.