What the Nose Knows



For decades individuals and businesses have explored ways to harness the evocative power of smell. First there was AromaRama or Smell-O-Vision, brainchildren of the film industry of the 1950s that infused movie theaters with appropriate odors in an attempt pull viewers deeper into a story. Today, “scent branding” is in vogue across a range of industries, including hotels that often pump their signature scents into rooms and lobbies. Smell is the only fully developed sense a fetus has in the womb, and because smell and emotion are stored as one memory, childhood tends to be the period in which you create the basis for smells you will like and hate for the rest of your life. People do tend to lose their sense of smell as they age, but not to worry. Your nose is like a muscle in the body that can be strengthened by giving it a daily workout, not with weights, but with sniffs. Just pay attention with your nose. When you're walking down the street, consciously indicate what you're smelling … the more you use your nose, the stronger it gets. You should absolutely “stop and smell the roses.”