How to master your sense of smell - Alexandra Horowitz

Summary

This engaging video explores the art of smelling and how individuals can enhance their olfactory senses. It highlights the expertise of perfumers and tea connoisseurs who can identify specific scents and their origins. The video emphasizes that while most people may not consciously notice smells, they are deeply connected to emotions and memories. By following three key steps—getting close to odors, sniffing purposefully, and focusing on the scent—viewers can train themselves to recognize and appreciate a wider range of aromas, enriching their sensory experiences and daily lives.

Takeaways

• 👃 Perfumers can identify individual scents in complex fragrances made of hundreds of odors.
• 🍵 Tea experts can discern the origin, harvest season, and planting conditions of tea by smell.
• 🚇 The New York City Transit Authority employed someone specifically to detect gas leaks by smell.
• 🤔 While everyone has olfactory receptors, most people do not consciously engage with the smells around them.
• ❤️ Smells are strongly linked to emotions and memories, helping to form powerful emotional connections.
• 🧠 It is possible to train your sense of smell, similar to how Helen Keller recognized different workers by scent.
• 👃🏼 Bringing your nose closer to the source of a smell enhances your ability to detect it.
• 🔍 Sniffing with intention and focus helps more odor molecules reach the olfactory receptors.
• 📝 Dedicating time to recognize and describe smells can expand your vocabulary and perception of odors.
• 🧂 Practicing with familiar kitchen ingredients can help improve your smelling skills over time.

Q & A

What skills can perfumers develop regarding their sense of smell?

Perfumers can learn to distinguish individual odors even in fragrances made of hundreds of scents.

What can tea experts identify by smelling tea?

Tea experts can identify not only the location where a tea is from but also the season of harvest and whether it was planted by a plum tree.

How does the New York City Transit Authority utilize smell?

The NYC Transit Authority once had an employee whose sole responsibility was to sniff out gas leaks in the subway system.

Is it possible for anyone to learn to smell with sensitivity like experts?

Yes, with practice, anyone can improve their sense of smell and learn to recognize various odors more effectively.

What anatomical disadvantage do humans have when it comes to smelling?

Human noses are designed to smell by casting around in the middle of the air rather than getting close to the source of odors, unlike some animals.

What role does proximity play in smelling effectively?

Bringing your nose close to objects or surfaces allows you to better detect odors, enhancing your overall smelling ability.

How can someone ensure they are inhaling odors effectively?

Taking one or two solid, sharp sniffs helps ensure that more air and odor molecules reach the olfactory receptors in the nose.

What should one do to improve their vocabulary of smells?

To improve your vocabulary of smells, take time to notice, describe, name, and locate the source of the smells you encounter.

What does fMRI research reveal about experienced smellers?

fMRI research shows that experienced smellers process and imagine odors more automatically compared to non-experts.

What exercises can someone do to enhance their sense of smell?

One exercise involves gathering non-toxic kitchen ingredients, closing your eyes, and attempting to identify the sources of the smells presented to you.