I just learned a few interesting factoids about some of the most smell-inducing foods that we eat. I don’t know how people can get past the smell of durian to be able to eat it, but it’s actually banned in public places in some parts of the world. Others foods that are packed with volatile compounds that can stink up our breath include garlic, onions, and alcohol. Because they circulate in the blood and exit through the lungs, they can cause bad breath for up to 72 hours. Asparagus doesn’t cause bad breath, but it does cause your urine to smell awful. Do you think that you’re not affected? You’re wrong. It affects everyone, but 60 to 80 percent of the population simply can’t smell it.

Though coffee breath may not be pleasant, unlike alcohol which encourages the growth of bacteria in the mouth–bacteria that contribute to bad halitosis–coffee actually inhibits their growth and scientists are trying to find ways to use that in breath-freshening products.