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An Aromatic Life

The Forgotten Sense with Prof. Jonas Olofsson

Feb 6, 2025
55:43

#137: In this episode, Frauke sits down with cognitive scientist and professor Jonas Olofsson to discuss his new book The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose. Prof. Olofsson, PhD shares how some of the myths about our sense of smell developed throughout history, including the role literacy played in devaluing our sense of smell so much. He explains why we’re all unique smellers, what makes olfactory memories different to other sensory memories, and why we’re so bad at identifying smells. Prof. Olofsson also clarifies if women are better smellers than men, and if we can rely on our sense of smell for information. They also get into the topics of chemical sensitivities, the science of aromatherapy, and what he’s learned about the relationship between authoritarianism and smell. If you’re curious about your sense of smell, this conversation will be sure to please. 

Learn more about Prof. Olofsson’s work: https://jkolofsson.com/

Get the book The Forgotten Sense

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