Saturday, February 2, 2008

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 4

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 4
Did you know that no two apples smell alike? It's true.
Because every scent that we perceive is composed of a
specific and complex combination of molecules, the scent of
every apple is unique to itself. No two apples have
identical scents because no two apples are composed of the
same combination of molecules. One apple may be larger,
have been exposed to more sunlight, water, nutrients,
insecticides or herbicides than its partner hanging next to
it on the very same tree.

These slight differences—however miniscule they may
be—have a bearing on an apple's molecular make up,
and therefore, have a bearing on its scent. You might say
that every apple has its own "fingerprint," or "scentprint."

Each individual also has his or her own unique
"scentprint". As individuals, we too have our own unique
scents. Factors that determine various body scents include
our age, physical condition, medications, illnesses,
hormones, biorhythms, the foods we eat, the minerals in the
water we drink, our skin and hair colour, and the chemicals
in the air we breathe.

Remember the way your skin smelled the last time you ate
garlic fingers? Or how about the last time you ate
watermelon? Think of the scents of the vegetables that
were in the salad you ate for lunch—the cucumbers,
the red peppers and Spanish onions. Have you ever noticed
that the scents of these foods end up lingering on your
skin long after you have washed your hands? Sometimes even
after you've had a shower? Not only are you what you eat,
but you end up smelling like the foods that you eat as well!

Consider this: unlike the apples we've discussed, whose
scents are relatively uniform, every part of our
bodies—our hair, mouth, eyes, elbows, underarms,
feet, etc.—also have their own scents that contribute
to our overall unique scent.

Now add perfume to this equation. We know that no two
perfumes have the same scent. But did you know that the
perfume you put on your throat will smell differently than
that which you put on your wrist? Because different parts
of our bodies have various scents, a perfume's odour is
dependent on not only the individual, but on the part of
the body of that individual to which it is applied. And
because the scent of our bodies changes from one hour to
the next, depending on its exposure to the air and our own
body's biorhythms . . .

How do scents affect the way in which we relate to each
other?

According to scientists, within seconds of meeting new
people we make sensory decisions about them, one of which
is based on how they smell. According to the Sense of
Smell Institute, "deep friendships and romantic alliances
are dependent upon, what scientists identify as, 'olfactory
bonding.'"

Not surprisingly, studies show that fragrances have a large
impact on how others feel about us and how we feel about
others. In a study by Drs. John Nezlek and Glenn Shean,
subjects claimed that when they wore their favourite
fragrances they felt better about themselves and felt more
comfortable in social situations.

The study also indicated that fragrances were more crucial
in opposite-sex interactions. Moreover, it was shown that
as an individual's appreciation for a fragrance increases
so do their social skills.


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Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab,
a world leader in the development of innovative products
that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger
memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual
health. To learn more about enhancing your sex drive, go
to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

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