The hunt is complicated by the fact that a dollar’s scent evolves as it circulates—from an inky-cotton fragrance fresh from the bank to an earthier, greasy-palm smell that should remind people to wash their hands more often. [...] Starting with base notes of cotton, soap and ink, Mr. vom Ende says, the scent sweeps in odors derived from more than 100 volatile organic chemicals. It includes whiffs of leather from time spent in wallets and handbags, a metallic tang that evokes cash registers, salty human sweat and even bacterial and bathroom smells.
— Perfumer Marc vom Ende of Symrise bottles the smell of money for artist Mike Bouchet. Read more at What Gives Money Its Distinctive Smell? One Chemist Tried to Find Out at The Wall Street Journal, or go smell it at Bouchet's exhibit Tender, which runs through February 25th at the Marlborough Chelsea gallery in New York City.