Some people are very sensitive to scents. Certain fragrances, like perfume, flowers or gasoline make them ill. Often, this is caused by an allergic reaction within their body. These people have to be very careful of where they go, because they can get so ill they have to go to the hospital.
The Olfactory System:
Our sense of smell is call "olfaction." It can tell when there are chemicals in the air. The chemicals enter our nose and dissolve in the mucous of the nose's membranes (lining of the nose).
Hair cells in our noses respond to certain chemicals. These cells have small hairs that are called, "olfactor receptors." These receptors pass information to small cells in the nose and the message is sent on to the brain. Humans have 40 million olfactory receptors. Dogs have around 2 billion. That is why dogs can smell much better than humans.
When your nose gets stuffed up, you cannot smell very much. This is because the chemicals are unable to reach the olfactory receptors.
Some people have no sense of smell (2 million in the US alone). This condition is called "anosmia." Can you imagine how different your life would be if you had no sense of smell?
Humans can smell between 3,000 and 10,000 different odors. Some are easier to detect than others. Lilacs and hyacinths have more of a fragrance than some other flowers. It drifts on the spring air, bringing a delightful sense of well-being to those who enjoy this smell.
Smelly Experiments:
Test Your Nose
Smells can stir up memories of all kinds. To test your nose, collect some of the following items: baby powder, moth balls, vinegar, orange peel, pine needles, rose petals, mint, banana peel, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, tea, vanilla, onion, cedar chips and pencil shavings. You may add other items if you wish.
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