Imagine Your Life Without a Sense of Smell...

Someone working in a kitchen without a sense of smell is like a blind person driving a taxi.

By Ben Jhoty 

Broadly speaking your sense of smell has three main functions. To avoid harm, by smelling fire or recognizing food that’s off, to aid social communication and to help with the ingestion of food and drink. But while there are biological imperatives, olfaction’s role extends beyond survival, says Dr Mehmet Mahmut, a senior lecturer in psychology at Macquarie University’s Food, Flavour & Fragrance Lab. “It’s important to be aware of the impact that your smell may have on your behaviour, on your decisions and the consequences of that behaviour.” It’s crucial to our enjoyment and appreciation of life.

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