WW
Your mostly probably right. Ever since I read a few books on bears prior to heading into Glacier I developed a new perspective. I've had 4 close encounters including a blackie in Glacier which I had to convince to leave the cooking area. 2 were in canoe country which were habituated bears and were immune to yelling etc.

Your right on the button with odor control. If they can't smell it they don't usually mess with it. They are very much like a dog in that respect. The first thing your dog does every time you greet is to smell you and confirm it's you. A bears world is its sniffer. A blue barrel, if sealed properly, should reduce problems :question

While I'm not paranoid or fearful to venture into the woods alone (for several years I spent the fall and early winter months all day everyday off-road in the backcountry) I have certainly developed a heightened realization of their potential to cause problems.