vision | why
scenthropologie
smell | culture | identity
Olfaction is perhaps the neglected sense in studies of communication. There are two main reasons for this—we rely on other sensory modalities, particularly vision, and there are also substantial technical challenges associated with capturing and analysing complex chemical signals, and with evaluating the effects on other individuals.
Dr. Craig Roberts.
Although it is scientifically argued that the sense of smell is predominantly a neglected sense in the studies of communication, it is the most direct, personal and immediate link we have with the world. We live in a time of increasing globalization where high demands of efficiency, productivity and speed attribute to the negligence of this sense we call smell. Our smells have been organized, categorized and marginalized to the extent that we have developed a conditioned sensitivity to smells within our environments.
There is still much room for the imagination to evolve to seek out the potential of the human sensorium—by increasing the awareness of our sensibilities and enhancing our conditioned sensitivities, there is a possibility of a deeper appreciation of this ephemeral sense we call smell.