Smell - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Smell, also known as olfaction, is the sensory experience of perceiving odors, a chemical sense that intertwines with memory, emotion, and fundamental aspects of survival, yet remains one of the least understood of our senses. Often taken for granted, smell’s absence—anosmia—reveals its profound influence on taste, spatial awareness, and social behavior, inviting us to question the assumed hierarchy of the senses.
Early references to smell appear in ancient Egyptian texts detailing incense recipes for religious ceremonies dating back to 3000 BCE. The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) contains prescriptions using aromatic substances for medicinal purposes, evidence of an early understanding of the physiological effects of odors. Aristotle explored smell through philosophy and laid groundwork for later scientific investigations by attempting to classify odors and associating them with specific tastes. During the Roman Empire, the association of virtue and corruption with scent became a cultural phenomena, for example when wealthy citizens used perfumes and fragrant oils as symbols of status, wealth, and moral character, an influence that persisted for centuries.
Over time, perceptions of smell evolved, intertwining with emerging medical theories like the miasma theory, which attributed disease to foul odors emanating from decaying matter. Aromatic practices grew in popularity and were thought to ward off the plague and other illnesses, a now-discredited but historically significant belief that underscored the perceived power of scents. The Age of Enlightenment brought a more analytical approach, and as industrialization and urbanization intensified, so did concerns about pollution and its effects on public health leading to early versions of environmental ethics. Later the rise of synthetic fragrances and perfumery industries in the 19th century, especially in France, transformed smell into a commodity, forever blurring lines between nature and artifice. Scientists like Linda Buck and Richard Axel achieved a Nobel Prize for their research and contribution in understanding the molecular mechanisms of olfaction which lead to scientific understanding about our perception of smell.
Today, smell's role extends beyond simple sensory input. Olfactory research continues to explore its connection to neurodegenerative diseases, the cognitive science of morality, and even social communication through pheromones. The ongoing use of scents in marketing, therapy, and environmental design highlights its enduring impact. How might our evolving understanding of smell reshape our interpretation of social interaction, emotional well-being, and the very fabric of human experience, inviting introspection and encouraging deeper exploration?