Olfaction

How ironic that I'm writing this post with a sadly stuffy nose preventing me from enjoying the refreshing scents of summer. ~ But I haven't forgotten the sweet sensation of delicious smells tickling my nose, so I'll go from there. ~

Scents have always intrigued and enticed me. The sweet perfume of a lady whooshing by me, the rich aroma of coffee in the morning, the musky and vaguely papery odour of the library... Each smell is distinct, yet reminiscent of something just beyond my grasp. ~ When I catch a whiff of a familiar scent, it's like greeting an old, nearly forgotten friend, for smells strike a bright image in my mind that, like a burst of light, does not last, leaving instead a vague impression of itself. ~
Smells add flavour and mood to any setting. ~ Roses for romance, freshly baked bread for homeliness, newly mowed lawn for summer. ~ Perhaps sniffing a particular scent can rush you back to a moment, a jolt into the past. It's certainly happened to me before, and I admit that I've kept scent-souvenirs more than once, though in the end, smells always fade, much to my dismay. ~
A scent is also a very personal belonging. ~ Each individual has his or her own distinct smell that sets him or her apart. More than once, I've fallen in love with a friend's smell. ~ It's just another facet of a person, yet it's distinctly different because it's so very unique and hard to describe, almost like trying to explain colour to someone who was born blind. ~ Maybe that's why people exchange personal belongings - to give a little bit of one's smell away, a token that is fingerprint-like in its particularity. ~
This ties into an interesting bit of knowledge I've stumbled across throughout my various readings. Basically, it boils down to this: humans are attracted to the opposite gender's smell based on compatibility. ~ Indeed, this means that one should thoroughly sniff out one's partner before making any rash decisions. I always knew I could trust my nose. ~
Smell is also an instinct. We naturally trust some smells that convey a sense of security while shying away from others that scream danger to our delicate noses. ~ Non-smokers are repulsed by the odour of smoke, for example, because it is harmful to their lungs. Smokers, on the other hand, crave this scent because it has become their drug. ~ So even the nose adapts. I love the human body's flexibility. ~
Personally, I am particularly sensitive to smells, which can either make me very happy or else induce mild migraines. Perhaps that is why I value olfaction so very much, though secretly, I like to think that it's because my large and rather unsightly nose must have some beneficial function to it. ~