Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with olfactory

Professional smell tester - am I part dog?

WhereAmI — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:51:45 -0800

Could I be a professional smell tester with my dog like nose? My sense of smell is quite elevated. I pick up on scents and then ask those around me "can you smell that [insert scent]". Most of the time their answer is no, and I search for the source or ask them to move closer to a certain direction so they can confirm that they eventually smell (usually they really have to inhale) the same scent.

My nose is like a dog, please help!

This has been going on for years and amongst several different locations, groups of friends and scents. Its all in good fun and I recently picked up a smell while back in my old neighborhood for a 4th of July party. When I worked my magic and identified the scent/source, a few of my old friends suggested that I should attempt to get a job as a professional "smell tester".

Is there such a job? If so, how do I apply? I've searched the askmefi forums but only found questions about human vs. animal (i.e., dog) sense of smell, and nothing about a human "smell tester" job. I picture something similar to a possible old wives tale my father told me when I was younger that all ice cream companies have professional taste testers who scoop samples of the frozen treat into their mouths using gold plated spoons that did not retain the taste of the previous flavor of ice cream.

I digress... I'm turning to you hive mind! Can you help me find out if there is such a job as a professional Smell Tester? If so, where do I find out more and can I schedule an appointment to at least quantify my olfactory sensation abilities?

Will I ever enjoy the smells of fine wine?

DetonatedManiac — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:10:57 -0800

Olfactory Filter: My sense of smell is severely diminished, when it exists at all. I have known this for years but now I want to taste wines so I am wondering if there is any way to repair my sense of smell or is it lost forever? I recall distinctly smelling things (particularly foul smelling things) as a child. However I have always had bad allergies and colds and was often congested growing up, still am often. But even when my nose is working at its best (best for me at least) my sense of smell seems quite dull or non existent

I have heard reports about neurological damage causing olfactory malfunction and surmise that could be it but don't know where to start to get that tested or (if possible) treated.

I have always told people that I have no sense of smell but that is not ENTIRELY true. Just the other day I could distinctly smell a bottle of Steak Seasoning my brother was using from across the room. Today I was trying to test myself by going through the refrigerator, spice rack and family perfume supply looking for strong smelling objects. I could faintly smell and identify concentrated lemon juice and even more faintly smell rosemary (in that I knew it was producing A smell). Perfumes and other spices had no identifiable smell for me, but now I have a headache.

HELP What does this mean?

Microolfactoryfilter

Eiwalker — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 08:32:02 -0800

What's the smallest thing that can be smelled by a human? Where the human can identify (accurately and reliably) what it is, such as, "Oh, I'm smelling a such-and-such!"

Puppy smell! What the heck is it?

LeeJay — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 01:29:39 -0800

Puppy smell. What is it? Where does it come from? Why can I not get enough of it? Mmmmm, new puppy smell. It seems to me that in another context this particular odor would not be pleasant, but combine it with a wriggling little puppy and it's as good as cinnamon buns in the morning. I've met very few people who can resist the lure of puppy smell. But what is it? Is it some sort of oil on the puppy's skin? Some leftover traces of mother's milk? Why does puppy smell smell so good?

I really thought I could Google this one but there are a lot of hits talking about loving puppy smell but not so many discussing what it actually is or where it comes from.

Why do some people find the smell of gasoline pleasant?

jeremias — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 14:41:11 -0800

Why do some people find the smell of gasoline pleasant?