We are intimately connected to nature, receiving its gifts, yet we can also face its wrath, drinking deep from its disasters. Through the process of “taming,” we have learned to thrive in the natural world. Without this taming, humanity might still be struggling to survive, hunting and gathering as we once did. Humans have tamed plants and animals for various purposes like labor, sustenance, warmth, and aesthetics, satisfying a range of basic needs. In the vast realm of nature, there exists a magical element known as scent. Seemingly intangible and colorless, it is deeply intertwined with life. It not only impacts our daily lives but also influences our spiritual existence, inspiring creativity in art and literature.
The relationship between humans and scents is akin to a taming process, transitioning from passively smelling scents to actively transforming and utilizing them in various aspects of life. Scents can improve food, purify the air, and uplift our spirits. Some distinctive scents can even help us avoid danger, like detecting gas leaks or spoiled food.
In the movie “Sideways,” the protagonist Miles is a wine enthusiast who practices “see, sniff, sip” when tasting wine. His deep knowledge of wine is evident when he takes a sniff and remarks, “I’m getting a bouquet of wildflowers, a hint of citrus, some white fig, and a whisper of, just, like, fresh tennis balls.” Some individuals are highly sensitive to specific scents, such as the aroma of cilantro, the smell of fresh paper and ink, or the scent of newly unboxed electronics. As you navigate the world of scents, have you ever wondered how many smells our brains can truly remember?
How Should We Classify Smells in Our Minds?
While this might seem like a peculiar question, researchers have indeed explored it, but the existing conclusions remain inconclusive. There are varying claims about how many smells humans can distinguish. For instance, a book published in 1993, “The Future of the Body,” mentioned that a proficient perfumer must recognize around 30,000 smells. Another statement appeared in a 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine press release, asserting that humans can identify approximately 10,000 smells. Yet, to date, there is no definitive evidence to specify how many smells humans can truly distinguish. Exploring this topic is akin to entering a labyrinth without a clear exit.
Before determining how many smells humans can discern, we must first understand how to classify scents, given their immense variety.
The earliest attempt to classify smells systematically was made by the 18th-century Swedish scientist Linnaeus. He proposed categorizing scents based on “plants and animals.” However, Linnaeus emphasized theoretical research over the scents themselves, rendering his method impractical. Subsequently, the concept of “primary odor sensations” classification emerged, akin to the “primary colors” idea. This theory identified seven basic odor categories as the foundation for all other scents. However, extensive experimentation revealed that this theory required enormous effort and was unverifiable.
Contributions from the Wine Industry
Professor Ann C. Noble from the University of California, USA, offered a fresh perspective on smell classification. After extensive research, using wines from different regions and having students in her wine sensory analysis class evaluate them, she derived various scent descriptions such as raspberry and blackberry. From these, she created the “Wine Aroma Wheel.”
Ann C. Noble’s “Wine Aroma Wheel” provided a structured vocabulary for wine scents. Its circular shape is divided into sections of varying sizes. The innermost circle contains broad scent categories like “floral.” The middle circle features subcategories such as “fruity floral” and “spicy floral.” The outermost circle lists specific scents like rose, jasmine, and carnation. This approach simplifies the classification of complex scents into easily identifiable categories.
The Role of Perfumers in Transforming Scents
The intriguing work of perfumers has furthered the history of scent taming. These artisans master a vast library of scent knowledge, from natural and synthetic ingredients to their blends. This is an extensive memory task, not only involving basic natural ingredients but also artificial fragrances and their combinations.
In the perfume industry, fragrance houses employ complex scent classification systems internally. Perfumers don’t start from scratch when creating a fragrance; instead, they begin with established “base accords.” For example, in creating a woody fragrance, they might use a combination of vetiver, oakmoss, citrus, and amber. By adjusting proportions and adding new elements, perfumers can create entirely new fragrances.
This process is akin to building with LEGO bricks. Each fragrance ingredient is a LEGO piece. For instance, vetiver essential oil can be seen as a “connector,” and ginger essential oil can be considered a “brick.” Perfumers initially assemble “base accords” using these LEGO pieces to create structures like windows, tires, and steering wheels. Then, these pre-assembled parts are further combined to construct a complete perfume, much like building a car from LEGO. During this process, they follow specific scent blending rules, often rooted in chemistry.
Through scent classification, recombination, and blending, perfumers capture nature’s scents, modify them, and package them as fragrances for human enjoyment. The variety of perfumes available today resembles a boundless ocean, offering a dizzying array of choices that can overwhelm consumers. Perfumers’ classifications and rearrangements of scents have turned rough, untamed aromas into exquisite, gentle fragrances. While the history of human scent taming might not hold the same significance as the domestication of plants and animals, it has enriched our olfactory world, filling it with captivating aromas.
