Smell, that forgotten sense to which we owe so much

The sense of smell is much more sensitive than the rest of our senses and, in addition, it is also more immediate, since it is capable of detecting the chemical substances in the environment and transmitting the sensation to us immediately. Much has been said about the importance of smell in our lives. An importance that sometimes goes unnoticed, but that acts in fields as varied as our state of mind or the choice of our partner.

Emotions that are transmitted through smell

• But smell is not only capable of transmitting pleasant or unpleasant sensations, it is also capable of capturing emotions. At least that is the conclusion of a curious study from the University of Utrecht based on the results of an experiment on the ability of smell to detect the feelings of other people.
• The experiment consisted of several men watching a scary movie, while others watched another one with unpleasant scenes that caused disgust. During the days prior to the viewing, the men should not drink, smoke, play sports, eat strong foods, or use scented soaps so that no odor interferes with the test.
• After watching the movies, a sweat sample was taken from them so that another group of women could smell them and thus be able to check their reactions. It seems that the women who smelled the sweat sample of the men who had felt fear reflected that expression of fear or fear on their faces. In the same way, those who smelled the other sample, acquired facial expressions of disgust or rejection. The most curious thing is that these women were not aware that it was their sense of smell that gave them that sensation.

Smell as an ally of well-being

1. But the contribution that the various smells make to our life is something that has been known since ancient times. And for some time now, a way to find physical and emotional well-being through smell has become popular, through aromatherapy treatments. The smell given off by the different essential oils directly stimulates our brain functions and makes us feel better.
2. Thus, using the sense of smell, we discover that we can combat problems such as insomnia with lavender, headaches with basil, anxiety with tangerine, or exhaustion with ginger. It is a therapy that is gaining followers in this fast-paced world where it is increasingly necessary to stop if we do not want to end up sick. And smell, in this case, is one of our greatest allies in achieving physical and emotional well-being.
3. To recognize the importance of smell in your life, all you have to do is stop and think how many times have you driven a man crazy with your perfume, how many times have you felt a smell that reminded you of a special moment and how many times have you fallen in love with someone at first contact, at first sight. Or rather, at the first smell.