Mineral Salt

Mineral salt, commonly referred to as halite or rock salt, is primarily composed of sodium chloride (NaCl). It forms through the evaporation of saline waters in arid climates or by the crystallization under pressure in underground deposits. Its appearance can vary from transparent to opaque crystals and is typically white, although impurities such as iron oxide can impart a pink or reddish color, as seen in Himalayan salt.

In terms of its scent profile, mineral salt itself does not have a distinct smell because sodium chloride does not emit volatile compounds at room temperature, which are typically required for a substance to be odoriferous. However, mineral salts can often be associated with a fresh, clean, or briny aroma, largely influenced by their sources such as seawater or saline lakes. This perceived smell is more about the environmental context or impurities within the salt rather than the salt itself. When used in cooking, mineral salt enhances the aroma of food by releasing molecules into the air, indirectly affecting the scent of a dish.