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Science

Spice Smelling Game for Kids: Masala Dabba Detectives

A spice smelling game for kids using the whole spices in your masala dabba. Sniff a covered jar, find its twin and talk about the smell. No cooking or tasting.

  • Interactive game
  • Ages 3-8 · Preschool–Grade 2Ages 3-8 · Nursery–Year 3Ages 3-8 · Nursery–Class 2Ages 3-8
  • 5 things to gather
  • 5 steps
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An open steel masala dabba with six whole spices beside six small jars covered with cloth and rubber bands

What Your Child Will Learn

  • Noticing and comparing smells, one of the five senses
  • Memory, from holding a smell in mind while searching for its match
  • New describing words, such as sweet, sharp, warm or fresh
  • Matching and sorting by careful attention

How to play the spice smelling game

5 steps

Before you start

A spice smelling game for kids needs nothing you do not already have: the whole spices in your masala dabba, a few small jars and some thin cloth. Your child sniffs a covered jar, then hunts through the dabba for the spice that smells the same.

There is no cooking and no tasting, only sniffing and talking. Start with three spices so the first round feels easy, then add more as your child gets quicker.

  1. Step 1: Gather your things: Set out the masala dabba with whole spices, six small jars, six cloth squares and six rubber bands on a tray.

  2. Step 2: Hide the smells: Put one whole spice in each jar. Cover each jar with cloth and a rubber band, and keep a matching spice in the dabba.

  3. Step 3: Sniff and match: Your child sniffs one covered jar, then finds its twin in the dabba. Smell only, no tasting.

  4. Step 4: Uncover to check: Lift the cloth to see if the match is right. Then swap roles and let your child hide the spices for you.

  5. Step 5: Talk about the smell: Ask what it is like: sweet, sharp or warm? Does it remind them of a dish at home? Describing smells builds new words.

Ways to extend the game

  • Idea 1

    Start with 3 spices that smell very different, such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise.

  • Idea 2

    Let little ones peek at the spice first, then cover the jar and ask them to remember the smell.

  • Idea 3

    Older kids: use 6 spices, or add similar-smelling pairs for a harder round.

  • Idea 4

    Older kids: play with a blindfold or closed eyes, matching by smell alone.

  • Idea 5

    Write or draw a smell word for each spice, such as sweet, sharp or warm.

  • Idea 6

    Swap roles so your child sets the puzzle and you guess.

More pictures

  • Gather

    Gather

  • Hide the smells

    Hide the smells

  • Sniff and match

    Sniff and match

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