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Among the five senses (or possibly more, depending on whom you ask), smell is often the least celebrated. Yet, many extraordinary moments would be unimaginable without it—whether it's savoring a flavorful bowl of Thai green curry (or anything with garlic), walking into a childhood home, or the nostalgic scents of Christmas.
Smell is perhaps the most enigmatic of the senses because it’s less concrete than taste or touch. Due to this and the fact that we’ve only recently begun to uncover the science behind smell, numerous intriguing beliefs and theories have emerged in cultures worldwide—some disproven by modern science, while others have endured through time. These perspectives offer fascinating insights into our culture, our identities, and the way we perceive the world through our noses.
10. Bad Odors Are Believed to Spread Disease
Before scientists established the germ theory of disease and before discovering that fleas were transmitting the Black Death via rats (or gerbils), people thought that illness spread through miasma, or foul odors. The term 'malaria' actually comes from the Latin words mal and aria, meaning 'bad air.'
As a result, 17th-century doctors treating plague victims wore long-beaked masks filled with fragrant items like dried flowers and herbs. People engaged in all sorts of odd practices to protect themselves from these harmful, unpleasant smells. They set bonfires in the streets and fumigated their homes. They even blessed the polluted air in cities, believing that coal smoke purified the air of disease. Some individuals even kept a goat inside their house, which seems strange, but we’re talking about people who once used leeches to cure illness.
9. Humans Have A Diminished Sense Of Smell Because We Possess Free Will
To clarify, humans do not have a weak sense of smell. In fact, our sense of smell is quite strong, potentially as keen as that of many animals. The idea that humans have a weak sense of smell can be traced back to 19th-century scientist Paul Broca. He associated smell with impulsive behaviors seen in animals—mainly to eat or mate. He theorized that because humans possess free will, we can control our responses to smells, suggesting our sense of smell isn’t overpowering. In other words, 'I don’t smell, therefore I am.'
Freud also contributed to the discussion, linking the heightened sense of smell in animals with uninhibited sexuality and the weaker sense of smell in humans with sexual repression.
8. Perfume Is The Divine Sweat Of The Gods
The ancient Egyptians were pioneers in creating and exporting perfumes. They blended oils and fats with fragrant plants and herbs, eventually sending their creations throughout the Mediterranean. For the Egyptians, perfume was closely tied to the divine. Gods were believed to have their own distinct scents, and perfume was considered the sweat of their god, Ra. There was even a god dedicated to perfume, Nefertem.
If you think about it, not much has changed. We still associate specific fragrances with certain celebrities, and we happily spend a lot of money to smell like them. If we could somehow capture Beyonce’s tears in a bottle and wear them, we probably would.
7. We Should Avoid Sleeping With Someone Who Shares A Similar Scent
In many cultures outside the Western world, the sense of smell is considered the most vital. For some, the very fabric of the universe is shaped by scent. The Ongee people of the Andaman Islands even created a calendar based on the seasonal changes in plant aromas. Personal identity is also closely tied to smell, with each person thought to possess a unique fragrance.
So, how does this focus on smell help prevent incest? In societies where identity is linked to scent, 'odor-mixing' is considered taboo, and individuals are discouraged from being with those who share similar smells. For example, among the Amazonian Desana, each tribe is believed to have its own distinct scent, and marriage is only permitted between individuals with different smells. This discourages marriage within the same tribe, ultimately reducing the chance of marrying a close relative.
But it’s not just a cultural practice; science also supports this idea. Research has shown that women tend to be drawn to the scents of men whose DNA differs enough to increase the likelihood of producing a healthy offspring. So, the next time you're on a date, make sure to take a good sniff to ensure they aren’t your long-lost cousin.
6. Scent Has The Ability To Heal Us
For centuries, civilizations worldwide have used concentrated plant extracts, or essential oils, for a variety of therapeutic, hygienic, and ceremonial purposes. This practice is what we now call aromatherapy. While the scientific basis for aromatherapy remains debated, numerous studies suggest that inhaling essential oils can have a powerful impact on mood, stress levels, focus, and even immune function. Researchers attribute these benefits to the way scents activate the areas of the brain responsible for physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Lavender, one of the most commonly used essential oils, has been proven to help reduce stress and elevate mood. Some scientists speculate that this effect arises because lavender activates the amygdala, much like certain sedative medications do. Once the realm of home-birthing hippies and Big Pharma conspiracy theorists, aromatherapy is now becoming more widely accepted as a natural alternative to prescription drugs.
5. Your Political Beliefs Have a Distinctive Odor
No, this isn't a joke—it's true. According to a study, we can actually detect people's political leanings by their smell. While we can't just take a quick sniff and know which candidate someone supported, a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Political Science found that adults are more likely to be attracted to people whose political ideologies match their own, based solely on body odor. In the study, 125 participants smelled samples of body odor from 21 people with extreme political views, and the results were surprising.
In one striking case, a participant described a sample (from someone with opposing views) as rancid, while another participant—whose political beliefs aligned with the sample's owner—thought it smelled so good that they wanted to keep it. The study humorously reveals why Republicans and Democrats often find it hard to get along—they can’t stand each other’s smell.
4. Skunk Scent Shields Against Dark Forces
This one is surprisingly plausible. If you douse yourself in skunk scent, it's probably safe to say nothing will want to come close—alive or otherwise. This belief traces back to several Native American tribes who regarded the skunk as a sacred creature. In these cultures, the odor of a skunk was thought to be a form of mystical defense against evil spirits, which were believed to bring disease.
Among the Cherokee, there was a custom of hanging a 'skunk bag' filled with the animal's scent during outbreaks of illness. A small hole would be made in the bag to let the pungent odor fill the area. While there’s no scientific basis for smell to combat the spread of disease—similar to miasma theory—these skunk bags may have unintentionally kept visitors away, potentially reducing exposure to contagion.
3. Scent Can Foretell Your Final Moments
There's a widespread belief that, just before death, a person will detect the scent of lemons or citrus. The origins of this legend are hazy, and the scientific understanding is even more unclear. However, there is a theory suggesting that our sense of smell may offer insights into the moment of death.
A 2014 study conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago discovered that elderly individuals who could no longer detect common odors like smoke, lemon, black pepper, chocolate, and cinnamon had a 36 percent higher likelihood of passing away within the next few years. Dr. Wilson, the researcher behind the study, suggests that this connection might be due to the loss of smell being associated with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. So, don't fret too much about any unexpected citrus scents; it's when you can’t smell the lemon in front of you that you should be concerned.
2. Scent Can Be A Diagnostic Tool For Disease
This concept may sound similar to the outdated idea that bad smells spread disease, and it likely influenced the rise of that theory. However, unlike miasma theory, there is some factual basis to this notion. Hippocrates, the renowned ancient Greek doctor, is credited as the first to use scent as a diagnostic tool for illness as early as the fifth century BC.
In modern times, various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of using the noses of animals, humans, and electronic sensors to detect disease. How does this detection happen? It relies on specialized sensory cells in the nose that can identify volatile chemical compounds in a person’s body. Essentially, certain smells can signal chemical imbalances and specific combinations that serve as indicators of diseases. This method has been shown to work in detecting conditions like colorectal cancer, lung cancer, lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, and type 1 diabetes. Another reason not to underestimate the power of smell.
1. The Most Sacred Fragrance Originates From A Furry Pouch On A Small Deer
Aromatics have held significant spiritual and ritualistic importance in many religions throughout history. However, one particular scent stands out in early Islamic culture: musk. Today, when we hear the words 'musk' or 'musky,' we might think of rugged lumberjacks or even Elon Musk. In reality, the word 'musk' refers to a fragrance widely used in perfumery, which was originally harvested from a small glandular sac found in male musk deer. This sac secretes a liquid that the deer uses to attract a mate.
Because many musk deer species are now endangered, the scent of musk is typically produced synthetically. However, during the Byzantine Empire, musk was considered the epitome of fragrance. It was even mentioned by Muhammad, and musk appears in many Arab proverbs. It is also frequently used in ancient Arabic literature as a symbol of greatness and value, a characteristic that, much like the scent itself, permeates everything around it.
