Acrylic paints are not only popular with artists because of their easy handling. As the scientists found out, the characteristic smell of the paints is due to various benzene derivatives, such as styrene or ethylbenzene. Scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute IVV have characterised the smell of acrylic paints for the first time and identified harmful odorous substances. Bauer et al. therefore used acrylic paints for the artists' needs.