A recent study from Rockefeller University revealed that the human nose is much more sensitive than previously thought, capable of distinguishing trillions of scents. Another study from the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center indicated that the olfactory-related areas of the brain in perfumers are more developed than in others. The increase in gray matter in the brain is a major factor in aging, but through practice, it is possible to reduce the gray matter in the olfactory regions, safeguarding the sense of smell from the threats of aging.
Let’s talk about how to train your sense of smell for perfumery.
My foremost advice is to protect your nose and use it regularly. However, can the olfactory sense be improved for an ordinary non-professional? While many believe perfumers possess a unique olfactory perception, the difference lies in the time they dedicate to training their sense of smell. Perfumers, often raised in families engaged in the perfume industry, are educated from a young age to rely extensively on their noses. The key distinction is the time invested in honing this skill.
While we don’t need to develop the acute sense of smell like a hunting dog, regular nose exercises are crucial for maintaining olfactory sensitivity. Appreciating the beauty of perfumes is a delightful and simple way to enjoy life. Moreover, since smell and taste are interconnected, a keen sense of smell can enhance one’s sense of taste. Here are some exercises and techniques to enhance your sense of smell:
Beginner:
If you decide to train your nose, start by incorporating various scents into your daily life. Start by smelling the aromas around you, such as grass, tea, coffee, chocolate, olive oil, and various fruits available in supermarkets. It may sound simple, but consciously smelling things will actually engage your brain and nose in a lot of work. Initially, you may feel confused about what you’re smelling or may not remember the scents you encounter, but don’t be discouraged, as this is a normal process of training your nose. In this stage, try to smell as much as possible. If you catch yourself unconsciously smelling coffee or soda without prompting, you can move on to the next stage of practice.
Intermediate:
This stage of practice requires immersing yourself in different scents. This method is not only applicable to perfume recognition training but also used in the treatment of people with olfactory loss who cannot perceive smells. Select three different types of perfumes, such as woody, floral, and fruity notes, and smell them several times throughout the day. For example, you can choose Hermès Terre d’Hermès (woody), Chloe eau de parfum (floral), and Acqua di Parma Osmanthus MIRTO DI PANAREA (fruity), or you can choose three everyday materials such as coffee, rose petals, and orange peel. Grind the coffee beans or scratch the surface of the orange peel to release their aromas.
Neurobiologists use this method to treat patients with olfactory loss, training the brain to distinguish differences in smells, stimulating the receptors in the nose, and reactivating the olfactory nerves. In other words, this method can make your sense of smell more sensitive, and results can be observed within just a week, with significant improvements.
Advanced:
Prominent perfumer mentors believe that every student, including those who have graduated and become professional perfumers, should thoroughly smell 3-5 different aromas they encounter first thing in the morning. This is good advice because our sense of smell is most sensitive in the morning, and immersing ourselves in the scents of jasmine, rose, and cedarwood can create a relaxed and calm state of mind, enabling us to start the day’s work better.
You can use common kitchen spices such as cinnamon, cloves, coriander, vanilla, or directly use essential oils for this practice. If using essential oils, it is recommended to dilute them with 1-5% alcohol. If using scent strips, remember to wait for the alcohol to evaporate before smelling; otherwise, it may temporarily dull your sense of smell.
While essential oils are excellent training tools, they can be expensive and difficult to obtain, so I do not highly recommend them. Many domestically produced essential oils available online are often mixed with synthetic chemicals and differ greatly from natural essential oils. If purchasing imported essential oils online, there is also a high chance of encountering counterfeit products. On the other hand, high-quality aromatic spices are easy to find, and you can discover a wide variety of them in your kitchen, making them ideal for training your sense of smell.
Gently crush the aromatic spices and place them in sealed containers. Deeply inhale the scents of each container and try to imagine what you are smelling. Do they smell sweet or burnt? Do they have a citrusy or tangy note? Can you sense a cooling or warming sensation? During this process, take your time with each spice and take note of your experiences in your mind. Gradually form a habit of smelling them daily. Although many people aspire to smell as many different scents as possible, the best approach is to smell the same group of scents continuously for a certain period.
Additionally
Don’t force yourself to remember every smell you encounter. Students in perfumery schools spend an entire year memorizing and identifying various fragrances. That is not our objective in these exercises. Our goal is to improve our sense of smell through long-term training. When you encounter a scent, it may trigger associations with related objects or memories. Does a certain fragrance remind you of the crackling sound of wood in a fireplace during winter or the sweltering beach in summer? Does a particular perfume make you think of freshly baked cookies or a damp and rundown cabin? Write down your fragrance reviews and impressions in a perfume diary to make your olfactory journey more interesting.
Conclusion
Practice makes perfect, immersing yourself in different scents, and subconsciously smelling things will not only exercise your brain but also make your world more vibrant and colorful. Our lives are already full of wonders, with trillions of smells waiting to be discovered by you!