Bucharest is known as a vibrant and eclectic city, but it also ranks highly on a different index: it’s one of the sweetest smelling cities in Europe.
As summer rapidly approaches, many residents dream of escaping the harsh, polluted winter air, whether it’s a stroll through a park or the fresh scents of spring flowers.
So what makes Bucharest smell so good? It might be the popcorn its residents munch on as they watch the latest political scandal, or the sweet lilacs that come out in spring.
But the study which measures bakeries, perfume shops and flower shops, gave Bucharest a high score in two particular areas: perfume outlets and flower shops.
The capital has 120 perfume shops and 122 flower shops over the city of 246 square kilometers giving it an overall ‘smell score’ of 7.21 out of 10, putting it in tenth place.
Experts at HAYPP analyzed data on 30 major cities in Europe and beyond, comparing their cleanliness EPI (environmental performance index)score to the number of bakeries, perfume shops, and flower shops in each city.
The cities that scored the highest on the survey were Athens, Paris and Zurich.
Taking the coveted top spot as the nicest smelling city in the world, with a smell score of 8.3 out of 10, is Athens, Greece.
Known for its lively street markets and food culture, the aroma of fresh produce, herbs, and traditional Greek cuisine permeates the Athenian air, creating an unforgettable scent experience.
Despite being the smallest city in the top five, Athens boasts an impressive 31 bakeries per 10 kilometres squared, selling everything from crispy Tiropita (cheese pies), to mouth-watering Baklava.
Athens’s 31 flower shops and 22 perfumeries per 10 kilometres squared, combined with an EPI cleanliness score of 56.2 helped it cinch the number one spot.
Next came Paris no surprise that it had a smell score of 8.15 out of 10.
Paris has a rich history in the luxury fragrance industry. The city is home to renowned perfume houses and boutiques, boasting 11.62 perfume shops per 10 kilometres squared.
In third place was Zurich, Switzerland with a smell score of 8.1 out of 10. Its proximity to the Alps means that it benefits from fresh, clean mountain air. The city is also well known for its high standards of overall cleanliness; streets, public spaces, and transportation systems are all carefully maintained.
With 12.4 bakeries and 9 perfume shops per 10 kilometres squared, plus a cleanliness EPI score of 66, Zurich embodies the term ‘alpine fresh’, the authors said.
