What percentage of people can smell ketones? The surprising genetic factor
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                Research indicates that fewer than half of all people may possess the ability to detect the characteristic fruity or nail-polish-remover smell of ketosis. This means the specific percentage of people who can smell ketones is unknown but far from universal, a fact largely attributed to genetic variations in olfactory receptors.