Dr. Will Talit: Stimulating the sense of smell improves children's perception and mental health
Dr. Wala Hafez, a specialist in olfactory science, emphasized that children need better education about the sense of smell to distinguish between different scents, whether floral, acidic, herbal, spicy, or refreshing aromatic fragrances, noting that this could enhance their mental health. According to The Guardian, Dr. Will Tulley from the University of York, author of the book “Smell: A History of Scents,” set for release on September 8, stated that “pollution can weaken the human sense of smell.” He added that many everyday items and materials, from vegetable shortening to car interiors and even homes, have been stripped of their original scents and replaced with artificial fragrances, thereby diminishing the ability to recognize the natural smells of things.
Regarding the impact of the proliferation of artificial scents on our daily lives and our ability to distinguish between different odors, Tulley said, “We need to train and stimulate the sense of smell.” He added, “I hope that children in primary schools learn how to use their sense of smell, and this training can also be practiced at home.” He explained that one possible way to stimulate the sense of smell is by encouraging children to smell more things. “The more we smell, the better our ability becomes to describe different scents and identify things by their odor.”
Scents and Memories: Tulley clarified that thinking about scents can also help us understand ourselves, such as why we feel comfortable with certain smells, and can provide useful information about our surroundings. He cited food safety and sustainability as an example, such as smelling something to determine whether it is fresh or not, and whether it should be discarded, rather than relying solely on expiration dates. Additionally, many people often use scent to judge others’ cleanliness and associate it with their social status.
There may be other benefits as well; numerous studies have shown that our ability to enjoy scents is closely linked to our sense of well-being, and those who suffer from a loss of smell often experience depression, anxiety, and other symptoms. However, despite the fact that people could benefit from raising awareness about the sense of smell, Tulley rejected the idea that this sense is undervalued, noting that when asked, people often recall vivid memories associated with specific scents. Tulley stressed the importance of questioning why we consider certain smells pleasant or unpleasant, how these associations developed, and what others might infer from them.
