The Forgotten Sense: The Fascinating Science of Smell with a Mind-Expanding Perspective, Perfect for Winter 2025, Discover the Power of Your Nose
Jonas Olofsson
Wikipedia describes smell as “The sense of smell, or olfaction, is the special sense through which smells (or odors) are perceived. The sense of smell has many functions, including detecting desirable foods, hazards, and pheromones, and plays a role in taste.”
I imagine that most of us do not think about our sense of smell until we smell something lovely (a favorite dish being cooked) or something we would rather not smell (as in the odor of the litter box before it is cleaned out). In fact, I remember lack of a sense of smell that the book discusses as a tell-tale sign of a possible COVID-19 infection before we had a test available for detection.
As those who contracted COVID-19 or had a head cold that blocked our ability to detect smells, losing one’s sense of smell, in a word, sucks. And given how important our sense of smell is when we suddenly lose it, there is a woeful lack of research into olfaction as compared to other anatomical processes.
In the book, The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell—and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose, Dr. Jonas Olofsson does a splendid job of exploring the world of our sense of smell, as well as detailing his own research in the subject matter. He describes the history of the sense of smell and the current research into the subject.
While I knew that the sense of smell was entwined with the sense of taste (think about the times you’ve had a head cold and was unable to taste your food until you were able to clear at least one nostril), I wasn’t aware of how intricate the dance between the senses was. I took great enjoyment in learning more about the subject of taste and smell.
This was an enjoyable book to read, in fact, I ended up reading late into the night because I liked it so much. I recommend this book to anyone interested in medical history, as well as those of us interested in learning more about the sense of smell.
4/5 stars
[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]
Finished reading book on: 01 December 2024