Different smells from same kind of molecules?

[annatar]

Is it possible for one kind of molecule to be the cause of various odors?

Maybe... this will happen when different parts of the molecule bind to the receptors in my nose?

 

[Andy Resnick]

Odorants do indeed bind to multiple receptors, and receptors can bind to multiple odorants- this is one mechanism that allows us to distinguish so many odors:

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/O/Olfaction.html