How many distinct scents can humans detect. What is the oldest sense known to living organisms. Can you really smell fear and disgust. Discover the incredible world of olfaction and its impact on our daily lives.

The Astonishing Capacity of Human Olfaction

Our sense of smell, scientifically known as olfaction, is often underestimated in its complexity and importance. Recent research has revealed that the human nose is far more powerful than previously thought. How many scents can we actually detect? A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science has shown that humans can distinguish at least one trillion distinct odors, a figure that dwarfs the previous estimate of a mere 10,000 scents.

This remarkable ability is made possible by the intricate workings of our olfactory system. When odor molecules enter our nasal cavity, they travel to the olfactory cleft where specialized nerve cells detect them. The combination of activated nerves creates unique smell signatures that our brain interprets, allowing us to experience a vast array of scents in our environment.

Pleasant Scents and Their Impact

While our noses can detect an enormous range of odors, some scents are particularly pleasing to most people. Which scents are generally considered the most pleasant? Experts like Dr. Dolores Malaspina from Columbia University point to vanilla, certain citrus fragrances, cinnamon, the smell of crayons, and freshly baked cookies as some of the most universally appealing aromas.

The Regenerative Power of Olfactory Cells

One of the most fascinating aspects of our sense of smell is its ability to regenerate. How often do our scent cells renew themselves? According to Dr. Amber Luong from the University of Texas Health Science Center, olfactory neurons are replaced every 30 to 60 days. This makes the olfactory nerve the only cranial nerve capable of regeneration, setting it apart from other sensory systems in our body.

Emotional Contagion Through Scent

Can emotions be transmitted through smell? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. A 2012 study published in Psychological Science demonstrated that humans can detect and respond to emotional states like fear and disgust through the scent of sweat. The research showed that women exposed to sweat samples from men experiencing these emotions displayed corresponding facial expressions and eye movements, suggesting a form of emotional contagion through olfactory cues.

The Evolutionary Significance of Smell

In the hierarchy of senses, which one holds the title of being the oldest? Dr. Malaspina explains that chemodetection, the ability to detect chemicals related to smell or taste, is the most ancient sense. Even single-celled organisms possess mechanisms to sense the chemical composition of their surroundings, highlighting the fundamental importance of this sensory modality in the evolution of life.

Gender Differences in Olfactory Perception

Are there differences in smell perception between genders? Research consistently shows that women outperform men in odor identification tasks. This gender disparity may be attributed to several factors, including differences in brain structure, particularly in the orbital prefrontal region. Some theories suggest that this enhanced olfactory ability in women may have evolved to aid in mate selection or to facilitate bonding with newborns.

The Impact of Age and Race on Smell

How does our sense of smell change as we age, and are there racial differences in this process? A 2013 study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences revealed intriguing disparities in age-related loss of smell among different racial groups. The research found that African-Americans and Hispanics tend to experience a decline in olfactory function earlier than Caucasians. While the exact reasons for these differences remain unclear, factors such as genetics and environmental exposures may play a role.

• Non-Caucasian participants scored 47% lower on smell identification tests
• The performance gap was equivalent to a 9-year age difference
• Women consistently outperformed men across all racial groups

Comparative Olfaction: Humans vs. Animals

How does human olfactory capacity compare to that of other animals? While our sense of smell is impressive, it pales in comparison to many other species. For instance, dogs possess nearly 44 times more scent cells than humans. Dr. Luong notes that humans have 5-6 million odor-detecting cells, while dogs boast an astounding 220 million.

This vast difference in olfactory capability has practical applications. Can dogs use their superior sense of smell to distinguish between individuals? Interestingly, research has shown that dogs can differentiate between non-identical twins based on their scent but cannot distinguish identical twins, highlighting the genetic basis of our personal odor profiles.

The Role of Evolution in Human Olfaction

Why do humans have a less developed sense of smell compared to many animals? Over the course of evolution, humans have come to rely less on olfactory cues for survival, leading to a reduction in the relative importance of this sense. However, this doesn’t mean our sense of smell is insignificant – it continues to play crucial roles in our daily lives, from enhancing our enjoyment of food to influencing our social interactions.

Olfactory Decline as a Health Indicator

Can changes in our sense of smell predict future health issues? Emerging research suggests that a diminished sense of smell may serve as an early warning sign for certain neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Luong points out that a decrease in olfactory function could potentially indicate the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

This connection between olfactory decline and neurological health opens up new avenues for early detection and intervention in these devastating conditions. How might this knowledge be applied in clinical settings? Researchers are exploring the potential of smell tests as non-invasive screening tools for neurodegenerative diseases, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The Importance of Olfactory Health

Given the potential link between smell and overall health, what steps can individuals take to maintain their olfactory function? While more research is needed in this area, some general recommendations include:

1. Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants
2. Practicing good nasal hygiene
3. Engaging in “smell training” exercises to stimulate the olfactory system
4. Maintaining overall health through proper nutrition and exercise
5. Seeking medical attention for persistent changes in smell perception

The Multifaceted Nature of Olfaction

As we delve deeper into the world of smell, it becomes clear that olfaction is far more complex and influential than many people realize. How does our sense of smell impact our daily lives beyond the obvious functions of detecting pleasant or unpleasant odors?

Research has shown that olfaction plays a crucial role in various aspects of human behavior and cognition:

• Memory formation and recall: Scents can trigger powerful memories, a phenomenon known as the “Proust effect”
• Emotional regulation: Certain odors can influence mood and emotional states
• Social bonding: Olfactory cues contribute to mate selection and parent-child bonding
• Taste perception: A significant portion of what we perceive as taste is actually due to smell
• Safety: The ability to detect harmful odors helps us avoid dangers in our environment

The Nose Knows: Olfaction in Decision Making

Can our sense of smell influence our decisions without us realizing it? Studies have suggested that subtle olfactory cues can impact our judgments and choices in various contexts, from consumer behavior to social interactions. For example, research has shown that certain scents can affect perceived product quality, influence gambling behavior, and even sway political preferences.

The Future of Olfactory Research

As our understanding of the sense of smell continues to evolve, what new frontiers are researchers exploring in the field of olfaction? Several exciting areas of study are emerging:

• Olfactory interfaces: Developing technologies that can digitize and transmit scents
• Smell-based medical diagnostics: Using olfactory biomarkers to detect diseases
• Olfactory augmentation: Exploring ways to enhance human smell perception
• Artificial noses: Creating devices that can mimic or surpass human olfactory abilities
• Olfactory genetics: Unraveling the genetic basis of individual differences in smell perception

These advancements could lead to revolutionary applications in fields such as healthcare, environmental monitoring, and virtual reality experiences.

The Ethical Implications of Olfactory Technology

As we develop more sophisticated ways to manipulate and replicate scents, what ethical considerations should we keep in mind? The ability to influence behavior and emotions through smell raises important questions about consent, privacy, and the potential for manipulation in marketing and other contexts.

Olfaction and Quality of Life

How does our sense of smell contribute to our overall quality of life? While often overlooked, olfaction plays a significant role in our daily experiences and well-being. People who lose their sense of smell (a condition known as anosmia) often report a decreased enjoyment of food, difficulties in social situations, and concerns about personal hygiene and safety.

Understanding the importance of smell can help us appreciate this often-undervalued sense and take steps to protect and nurture it. What can individuals do to cultivate a more refined sense of smell?

• Practice mindful smelling: Pay attention to the scents in your environment
• Explore diverse odors: Expose yourself to a wide range of scents
• Learn about perfumery and wine tasting: These fields offer structured approaches to developing olfactory acuity
• Maintain nasal health: Address allergies and sinus issues that may impair smell
• Quit smoking: Smoking can significantly damage olfactory function

The Cultural Significance of Smell

How do different cultures perceive and value the sense of smell? Olfactory preferences and the importance placed on certain scents can vary widely across societies. For example, some cultures have highly developed vocabularies for describing smells, while others place greater emphasis on visual or auditory information.

Exploring these cultural differences can provide valuable insights into human cognition, emotion, and social behavior. It also highlights the need for cross-cultural considerations in fields such as product development, marketing, and healthcare.

Olfaction in the Animal Kingdom

While we’ve touched on the superior smelling abilities of dogs, how do other animals utilize their sense of smell? The animal kingdom offers a fascinating array of olfactory adaptations:

• Elephants: Can detect water sources from miles away using their trunks
• Sharks: Possess an acute sense of smell that allows them to detect minute quantities of blood in water
• Salmon: Use olfactory cues to navigate back to their birthplace for spawning
• Ants: Communicate and navigate using pheromone trails
• Bears: Can smell food from over a mile away

Studying these remarkable olfactory abilities not only enhances our understanding of animal behavior but also inspires biomimetic technologies that could have practical applications in various fields.

Lessons from Nature: Biomimetic Olfactory Technologies

How can we apply insights from animal olfaction to solve human challenges? Researchers are developing artificial noses inspired by the olfactory systems of dogs, insects, and other animals. These devices could have applications in fields such as:

• Medical diagnosis: Detecting diseases through breath analysis
• Food safety: Identifying spoilage or contamination in food products
• Environmental monitoring: Detecting pollutants or hazardous chemicals
• Security: Sniffing out explosives or illicit substances
• Agriculture: Monitoring crop health and pest infestations

The Neuroscience of Smell

What happens in our brains when we smell something? The process of olfaction involves a complex interplay of neural pathways and brain regions. When odor molecules bind to receptors in the nasal cavity, they trigger electrical signals that travel along the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb in the brain.

From there, the information is processed and relayed to various parts of the brain, including:

• The piriform cortex: Involved in odor identification and discrimination
• The amygdala: Processes emotional responses to smells
• The hippocampus: Plays a role in olfactory memory formation
• The orbitofrontal cortex: Integrates olfactory information with other sensory inputs

This intricate neural network allows us to not only detect and identify odors but also to associate them with memories, emotions, and other sensory experiences.

Olfactory Training for Brain Health

Can exercising our sense of smell benefit our brain health? Emerging research suggests that regular olfactory training may have neuroprotective effects and could potentially slow cognitive decline in aging populations. Some studies have even explored the use of smell training as a complementary therapy for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.

The Role of Genetics in Olfactory Perception

How much of our olfactory ability is determined by our genes? Research has shown that genetic factors play a significant role in individual differences in smell perception. Certain genetic variations can affect:

• The number and types of olfactory receptors a person possesses
• The sensitivity to specific odors
• The ability to detect certain scents at all (specific anosmia)
• The tendency to find certain odors pleasant or unpleasant

Understanding the genetic basis of olfaction could have implications for personalized medicine, as well as for the food and fragrance industries.

The Evolutionary Puzzle of Human Olfaction

Why do humans still retain a relatively complex olfactory system despite relying less on smell than many other animals? Some researchers argue that our sense of smell may serve more subtle yet crucial functions in human behavior and cognition than previously recognized. These could include:

• Subconscious social signaling through body odors
• Influencing mate choice and reproductive behavior
• Enhancing emotional processing and empathy
• Contributing to flavor perception and food enjoyment

As we continue to unravel the mysteries of human olfaction, it becomes increasingly clear that our sense of smell is a fascinating and multifaceted aspect of our biology, deeply intertwined with our emotions, memories, and overall well-being. From its trillion-scent capacity to its regenerative properties and its potential as a health indicator, the human nose proves to be an extraordinary sensory organ worthy of greater appreciation and study.

10 Incredible Facts About Your Sense of Smell

Olfaction, the sense of smell, might be the Rodney Dangerfield of the five senses: It gets no respect — or at least not as much as it should. From how many different scents the nose can pick up to the link between smell and overall health, there are a lot of things about this sense that may surprise you.

Here are 10 strange but true facts about our sense of smell:

1. People can detect at least one trillion distinct scents. Scientists thought that the human nose could only detect about 10,000 different smells, but that information was based on a study from 1927 and very outdated. This year, researchers from Rockefeller University tested people’s sense of smell by using different mixtures of odor molecules. The results, published in the journal Science, showed that the nose can smell at least one trillion distinct scents.

So how exactly does humans’ sense of smell work? When odors enter the nose, they travel to the top of the nasal cavity to the olfactory cleft where the nerves for smell are located, explains Amber Luong, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “There, the odorant is detected by various receptors located on the nerve cells and the combination of activated nerves travel to the brain. The combination of activated nerves generates all the unique smells that we as humans can detect,” says Dr. Luong.

Some of the most pleasant or pleasurable scents include vanilla, some forms of orange scents, cinnamon, crayons, and cookies, according to Luong and Dolores Malaspina, MD, MSPH, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York.

2. Scent cells are renewed every 30 to 60 days. The sense of smell is the only cranial nerve — nerves that emerge from the brain and control bodily functions including eye movement, hearing, taste, and vision — that can regenerate, says Luong.

3. You can smell fear and disgust. You can smell feelings of fear and disgust through sweat, and then you can experience the same emotions, according to a 2012 study published in the journal Psychological Science.

Researchers collected sweat from men as they watched movies that caused these feelings. To remain odor-neutral for the sweat test, the men used scent-free products, and quit smoking and using alcohol. Women participants then completed visual search tests, while unknowingly smelling the sweaty samples. The women’s eye movements and facial expressions were recorded during this time.

The researchers found that women who smelled the “fear sweat” opened their eyes widely in a fearful expression, and women who smelled the “disgust sweat” also displayed facial expressions of disgust.

4. Smell is the oldest sense. Chemodetection — detecting chemicals related to smell or taste — is the most ancient sense, says Malaspina. “Even a single cell animal has ways to detect the chemical composition of the environment,” she adds.

5. Women have a better sense of smell than men. “Women always are better at odor and smell identification than men, and every study finds that,” says Malaspina. She says one of the reasons for this may be that women have a more developed orbital prefrontal region of the brain. It may have also evolved from an ability to discern the best possible mates, or to help women better bond with and understand newborns.

6. Age-related loss of smell is linked to race. African-Americans and Hispanics experience loss of smelling related to age earlier than Caucasians, according to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults aged 57 to 85 years to identify five common odors.

Although age-related loss of smell is common, this is the first study to examine racial differences.

Results showed non-Caucasian individuals consistently scored 47 percent lower than Caucasians, and were equivalent to being nine years older. Women from all races performed the smell test better than men, and were equivalent to being five years younger.

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The exact cause for this difference is unknown, but researchers believe genetics and environment (such as exposure to nerve-damaging substances) could be factors.

7. Dogs have nearly 44 times more scent cells than humans. “Humans have five to six million odor-detecting cells as compared to dogs that have 220 million cells,” says Luong. ”We have evolved to rely less on our sense of smell, while most animals have retained this sense.”

Another fun fact about canines and smell: Dogs can distinguish non-identical twins but not identical twins based on odors, says Malaspina.

8. Loss of smell may signal future illnesses. “Decreased sense of smell may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease,” says Luong. Two studies presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2014 found that a reduced ability to identify scents was associated with brain cell function loss and advancement to Alzheimer’s disease. A study published in the Annals of Neurology also found that a diminished sense of smell can precede the development of Parkinson’s disease.

9. Each human has their own distinct odor.  Like fingerprints, every person has their own distinct odor. The distinct odor you have comes from the same genes that determine tissue type, says Malaspina.

10. Decline in smell may predict death within five years. A recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that a decreased ability to identify scents may predict death within five years. The study looked at more than 3,000 Americans aged 57 to 85, and found that people unable to identify scents like rose, orange, and peppermint were more than three times as likely to die in the next five years.

Still, having a diminished sense of smell isn’t necessarily something to panic about. Most of the things that interfere with olfactory senses are allergies and head injuries, and not factors that suggest an increased risk of death.

“We know that new brain cells are produced throughout life in a few different olfactory areas, and the earlier death may relate to the decline of cell regeneration that is occurring in other body regions as well,” says Malaspina.

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21 Weird and Wonderful Facts About Scent and Smell

Many of us take our sense of smell for granted without a second thought about how the smell is made.
From the sweet bitter smell of that first cup of coffee to the gentle scents which reassure us we are home, we’re exposed to an endless tapestry of different smells every day – many of which have a significant impact on our mood and outlook on life.
To celebrate the wonderful organ which is our nose, here we’re sharing some of our favourite facts about scent and smell, some of them strange, some of them shocking.

Here are 21 weird and wonderful facts about scent and smell:

1.

Humans Can Detect At Least One Trillion Different Smells

Although the exact number is yet to be determined, scientists revealed in a 2014 journal that humans can identify at least one trillion different smells. It is thought that the actual number may be significantly higher than this, however, thanks to the 10 million smell receptors in everybody’s nose.

2. Everyone Smells Slightly Different

Our own smell is personal to us, and completely unique. How we smell is predetermined, and comes from the same genes which determine our body’s tissue type.

3. And Everyone Can Smell Slightly Differently

We all have our ‘scent blind spots’, smells which we cannot pick up. This means that we all smell things differently, and the scents we enjoy are entirely unique to us.

4. It’s Possible to Smell Feelings

Amazingly, our sense of smell is so developed it has been discovered that we can smell fear, disgust, happiness and even sexual arousal on other people. A 2012 study found that smell signals exist in our sweat, helping others empathise with us when we’re experiencing certain emotions.

5. Women Have a Stronger Sense of Smell Than Men

The battle of the sexes rages on, but one category has a clear winner: tests have found that women have a more developed sense of smell than men, and are capable of identifying a greater number of different odours. This is thanks to women’s orbital prefrontal region of the brain, which is more developed than their male counterpart’s.

6. Our Sense of Smell Peaks During Our Late Teens

Around 18 or 19 is when our sense of smell is at its peak. After this age, our sense of smell gradually declines.

7. And During Spring and Summer

Thanks to the additional moisture in the air during the spring and summer months, it is easier to identify different smells than during autumn and winter. Furthermore, our sense of smell improves after exercise, which many of us are more likely to do during the longer, warmer days of spring and summer.

8. And During Pregnancy

When pregnant, a woman’s sense of smell becomes heightened and hypersensitive. It’s thought that this heightened sense of smell could be the reason behind the strange food cravings of pregnant women.

9. Dogs Have Nearly 50% More Scent Cells Than Humans

Moving away from the human race for a moment, our canine friends put even the best human nose to shame. With just shy of 44% more scent cells than humans, dogs have a far more developed sense of smell than we do – capable of discerning more subtleties in odour and picking up scents from a greater distance.

10. The UK’s Favourite Smell is Freshly Baked Bread

A 2015 poll of 2,000 UK adults found that a freshly-baked loaf is our favourite smell in the UK. This narrowly pipped the likes of roses, vanilla, lavender, lemon and scented candles (our personal favourite, of course) to the top spot.

11. Animals Have Favourite Smells Too

Not so bothered about the freshly-baked bread, our animal friends each have their own favourite smells. Cats favour valerian, lions prefer mint and camels love tobacco.
And your pet pooch’s favourite smell? You, of course!

12. Smell is Our Most Memorable Sense

It has been discovered that we remember smells for much longer than sights, sounds, tastes and feelings. Amazingly, people can remember smells with a 65% accuracy after one year, whilst visual recall is only 50/50 after a quarter of the time.

13. We Can Smell Before We Are Born

Smell is the first sense to develop, with unborn babies enjoying fully-formed and functioning smell. This sense then continues to play a major role in our early development, with the smell of crayons routinely noted as one of our earliest memories from childhood.

14. But Not When We Sleep

During those peaceful slumber hours, we close down our sense of smell completely. So, no need to worry about waking the rest of the family as you brew your morning cup of coffee.

15. Taste is Reliant on Smell

It’s no secret that the smell of food massively impacts our taste perception, accounting for up to 95% of the flavour. However, did you know that without a sense of smell it would be almost impossible to tell the difference in taste between a potato and an onion?

16. Some People Only Receive Bad Smells

We thought it was bad enough suffering from anosmia, the condition in which you cannot identify any smell, but that’s nothing compared to cacosmia. Sufferers of cacosmia will only detect disgusting scents, and even those traditional smells (freshly-baked bread et al) will smell like vomit or waste to these poor individuals.

17. Perfumers Have to Identify At Least 250 Smells Before They Qualify

To reach the pinnacle of the perfume profession, perfumers must successfully identify at least 250 different scents as part of their induction test. This difficult initiation is why there are only 50 fully-fledged perfumers (also known as Noses) in the world.

18. It Takes 1,600,000 Rose Blossoms to Create 1kg of Rose Oil

That’s four tonnes of roses, concentrated into just 1kg of rose oil, used for perfumes, candles and more. No wonder it’s one of the most coveted scents around!

19. Nature Is an Endless Supply of Scents and Ingredients

Fragrance oils are derived from just about everywhere in nature, from barks, blossoms and roots to seeds, fruits and leaves. No stone is left unturned in the pursuit of the most wonderful scents for perfumes and candles!

20. There Are Seven Main Smells

Like the five different tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami), some scientists believe there are seven different main smells – musky, putrid, pungent, camphoraceous (similar to mothballs), ethereal, floral and minty. It is thought that all scents are a mixture of these seven basic ingredients.

21. And Good Smells Make Us Happy

Perhaps the least surprising fact about scent. If we smell something we find pleasant, it can have a positive effect on the mind and help to lift our mood. So, we believe it’s always a good idea to have a candle or oil diffuser to hand for when we need a little pick-me-up.

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Read here Helping you enjoy your favourite scents and smells, the Parks range of candles and oil diffusers boast the finest fragrances. Did you enjoy these facts about scent and smell? For the full Parks range of eco-friendly products, Click Here or call our friendly sales team on 0208 830 6300.

10 interesting facts about the sense of smell

Smell, it would seem, is a much less important sense than sight, hearing or touch. However, it is precisely this that is the most ancient sense, without which we could not perceive either the taste of food or learn about the danger in the world around us.

1. According to a study published in the journal Science in 2014, the human nose can detect at least 1 trillion distinct odors.

2. One of the most pleasant smells people consider the aroma of vanilla, some smells of citrus, cinnamon, cookies and … colored pencils. The author of this study is Dolores Malaspina, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York.

3. According to Professor Malaspina, smell is the most ancient sense. Even unicellular organisms have ways of perceiving the chemical composition of the environment.

4. There are a number of olfactory anomalies. Among them are anosmia (complete or partial loss of odor perception), dysosmia (impaired sense of smell, when another odor is perceived instead of one odor), hyperosmia (excessive odor perception).

5. A group of scientists from Tel Aviv University are developing a new way to identify a person – using the smell of his sweat. According to their theory, sweat is a person’s chemical “fingerprints” unique to everyone.

6. The sense of smell is responsible for 75-95% of the perception of taste. Without inhaling the smell of the product, we perceive its taste much worse and cannot distinguish one type of food from another only by its texture.

7. Loss of smell may indicate the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A decrease in the ability to perceive odors is associated with a loss of functionality of brain cells.

8. Sense of smell may be one way to diagnose autism. According to some studies, children with autism do not distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant odors and inhale them in the same way, without trying to inhale deeply the “delicious” aroma or breathe shallowly if the smell is bad. In experiments, this “breath test” showed an 81 percent accuracy in diagnosing children as young as 7 years old.

9. The nose determines the sound of the voice. What we hear when people speak or sing depends largely on the resonating structures in the throat and nose. The sound itself is produced by the vocal cords, but its richness is determined by how it is “processed” above the vocal cords. The characteristic “nasal” voice in nasal congestion occurs due to the lack of nasal resonance.

10 . Rhinoplasty, or rhinoplasty, is the second most common cosmetic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 250,000 nose reshaping surgeries were performed in the United States in 2010 (breast surgery is the most common). At the same time, this is one of the most complex plastic surgical interventions in terms of functionality. After all, sometimes we are talking about millimeters that separate a successful operation from an unsuccessful one.

Source

40 facts about smells and smell

Imagine what would happen if you stopped smelling the flowers in the garden, the many smells that you unconsciously smell in everyday life, or, for example, the smell of food on your plate. Dishes will lose half of their appeal, and life will become monotonous, monotonous and boring. Smells and aromas bring versatility and brightness to our lives. Without them, the kaleidoscope of emotions and memories will lose its color and significance. There are more smells in the world than meets the eye. Open yourself up to new facts and random little things about smells, perfumes, the sense of smell and everything that surrounds the unique world of aromas.

About the sense of smell

1. In fact, we perceive smells with the brain, not with the nose, as one might assume.

2. Each person has their own unique sense of smell. There are no two people in the world who smell exactly the same. This is because each of us has aromatic dead zones, which include those smells that we cannot recognize. Does the same perfume smell like violets for you, and herbs for a friend? Both of you may be right.

3. Smells can evoke memories, but most scent memories are formed in the first decade of life, unlike, say, visual or other sensory types of memory. The deepest childhood memories are associated with the smell of freshly sharpened pencils!

4. Our nose contains 10 million olfactory receptors that are capable of distinguishing 10 trillion different scents.

5. Feelings of fear and disgust are broadcast through sweat. When you hear this smell, you can automatically adopt this emotion. Smell can also detect happiness and sexual arousal, and this happens as long as the person you’re sniffing is a close romantic partner.

6. People who do not have a sense of smell (suffering from anosmia) are more prone to depression than those who are not deprived of this sense. Another violation – dysosmia – involves confusion of smell, that is, when things do not smell the way they should. Hyperosmia (painfully heightened sense of smell) is another disorder that pregnant women often experience.

7. The human nose is almost as sensitive as the noses of many animals, including dogs.

8. Olfactory receptor cells are renewed every 28 days. Yes, every four weeks we get a “new nose”, but the very sharpness of smell fades with age.

9. Pleasant smells make us happier. Inhaling a fragrance that we consider pleasant for ourselves has a positive effect on the brain. So if you like musk, rose or citrus, keep a small bottle of essential oil on your desktop – so you can cheer yourself up when you need it.

10. Smell is a mysterious and elusive process. All the smells of the world can be divided into several groups – some researchers identify only seven categories of smells: musky, putrid, pungent, camphor (like the smell of naphthalene), ethereal (like a dry cleaning liquid), floral and mint.

11. Contrary to popular belief, blind people are not endowed with an increased olfactory ability.

12. Perfumers do their job so brilliantly not because they have better noses, but because they have perfected the art of perceiving fragrances and have learned to classify them.

13. Humans have 350 functional olfactory receptor genes. Mice have 1300 of them.

14. Our nose can become oversaturated when we listen to many different scents in a row. It is important to give the nose a break. How? Bury your nose in your own clothes and breathe in their scent. The clothes may not have a strong smell, but this technique will clear the nasal passages to help the body perceive other odors. In addition, inhaling the aroma of coffee beans helps to “format” the olfactory palette.

15. Men smell a woman’s ovulation. Both sexes smell major histocompatibility complex (genetic codes important for the immune system) smells different from their own. This is interesting because the offspring of parents with different codes have a more robust immune system.

16. Perverted taste preferences of pregnant women can be caused by a heightened sense of smell: the nose becomes hypersensitive, which leads to the development of an abnormal sense of taste. Probably, this justifies the ability of pregnant women to combine salty and sweet, sour and spicy in one dish.

About perfume

17. The first perfumes were developed by the ancient Egyptians and were used in religious rituals.

18. The first famous perfumer in the world was Taputti, a chemist from Mesopotamia.

19. Recent excavations have unearthed the first perfume factories that are over 4,000 years old.

20. Cleopatra used liters of aromatic oils to seduce Julius Caesar.

21. The ancient Romans sprinkled various oils on the walls to create a pleasant aroma in the house.

22. The ancient Greeks created various aromatic compositions for different parts of the body.

23. Napoleon Bonaparte asked his beloved Josephine not to wash before he returned home. That’s how much he loved her natural scent.

24. The first spirits also served as drinks. Perfume “Hungary Water”, created in 1370, is considered the progenitor of modern perfumes, as it contained alcohol (brandy). For a more pronounced effect, in addition to applying directly to the skin, this perfume was suggested to be drunk. Considering the cost of perfumes, such internal fragrance would be unreasonably expensive nowadays.

Some more interesting facts and little things

25. On average, a modern woman has five different bottles of perfume in her arsenal at the same time.

26. The favorite smell of men is the aroma of a fresh breakfast; Women’s favorite fragrance is the smell of a newborn baby.

27. 88% of women wear perfume to please only themselves, without regard for the opinions of others about perfume.

28. 55% of women use perfume to lift their spirits.

29. A third of all men’s fragrances are bought and worn by women.

30. The most expensive perfume in the world is Imperial Majesty by Clive Christian – for 500 ml of a unique composition you will have to pay $ 215,000. The fragrance is housed in a crystal Baccarat flacon, and its neck is adorned with 18-carat gold and encrusted with a 5-carat diamond.

31. Ambergris is one of the most valuable raw materials in perfumery. The smell of this ingredient is described as watery and sweetish, and it originates in the gastrointestinal tract of sperm whales. Currently, the use of natural ambergris is prohibited, and a rare ingredient is replaced by its synthetic counterparts.

32. The process of creating a perfume involves two different approaches, each of which requires the extraction of fragrances from flowers or other herbs. The first method uses wax saturated with fats, which absorbs the aroma of the ingredients mixed together for three months. Subsequently, alcohol is used to remove the smell of the wax. Another approach calls for placing flowers in water until they triple their own weight. Then this water is brought to a boil, and the resulting condensate is accumulated and cooled. Before use, all flavors are passed through filters to remove excess impurities.

33. To date, there are about 1000 real “noses” in the world, of which about 400 are included in the cohort of top-class perfumers. These four hundred are the elite responsible for all modern perfumes in the world.

34. It takes many years to train the nose.

35. One of the tests that beginner perfumers must pass through is the ability to recognize each note of a composition consisting of 250 ingredients.

36. The creation of one perfume can take several months or even years.

37. There’s a reason why men wear cologne and women don’t (although some women do prefer masculine scents more). The acidity levels of eau de toilette and eau de parfum vary greatly. Men’s skin has a higher pH level than women’s, which means that men’s fragrances are designed to regulate this level. The level of acidity of the skin of each person is different, add here the individual hormonal background, diet, skin condition and you will understand that the same perfume smells differently on each person. The disclosure of fragrance on a particular person depends solely on the chemical properties of his skin.

38. If you put perfume on your wrists and immediately start rubbing them intensively against each other, you thereby destroy the molecular bond of the ingredients and break the fragrance pyramid.