Monique Smeets

Professor Monique Smeets holds a chair in Sensory Systems in Social Context at Utrecht University within the Social, Health and Organisational Psychology section of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She maintains an active research program investigating chemosensory and cross-modal perception in social contexts, with particular focus on body odor as a medium of social communication. Her work bridges academic psychology with industry applications, having previously held a dual affiliation with Unilever R&D Science & Technology from 2011-2024.

Professor Smeets' research interests center on understanding how sensory systems, particularly olfaction, function within social contexts. Her work explores the psychological, physiological and social dimensions of smell perception, including how body odors communicate emotions like fear and anxiety between individuals. She has established the Smell Lab at Utrecht University, which investigates the impact of environmental odors on health and wellbeing, with research spanning from basic sensory mechanisms to applied consumer science contexts. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates experimental psychology with applications in sustainability, health, and consumer behavior.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory in human chemical communication research, with increasing focus on the universality of chemosignaling across cultures, the development of assessment tools for odor awareness, and applications of olfactory science to sustainability challenges. Her work increasingly connects basic sensory research with practical applications in consumer products, health screening, and environmental psychology, demonstrating the growing recognition of olfaction's importance in human behavior and wellbeing.

Professor Smeets has secured significant research funding including a Vidi-Verniewingsimpuls grant from NWO that enabled the establishment of the Smell Lab. Her research on chemosensory irritation from environmental odors produced novel insights about health effects resulting directly from odor exposure versus indirect mechanisms involving learning and anticipation.

She leads the Smell Lab at Utrecht University, which serves as the primary research hub for her investigations into sensory systems in social contexts. The lab facilitates collaborative research between social science and industry R&D within innovation ecosystems, continuing her longstanding interest in applying psychological science to drive impactful innovations that promote consumer wellbeing and sustainability.