Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 3

Like our eyesight, our sense of smell weakens as we age.  While researchers search for treatments to counteract the effects of aging on our sense of smell, there are four “exercises” that you can do now to keep your nose (and taste buds) young.

Does your sense of smell diminish as you age?

Like our eyesight, our sense of smell weakens as we age.  While the jury is still out in determining just when our sense of smell peaks and begins to decline—some experts say that it peaks at the age of eight and begins to decline as early as the age of fifteen—the general consensus, however, seems to be that our sense of smell remains sharp well into our fourth and fifth decades and that it largely depends on our particular state of health.

As we age, our numbers of olfactory receptor cells diminish.  Research suggests that a sixty-five year old may have as few as one-third as many receptor cells as an individual who is twenty.  And though our sense of smell is most acute between the ages of twenty and forty, we use our sense of smell to enhance our living, alert us to danger, and make important decisions about people and places throughout our lifetime.

In “Taste and Smell Losses with Age” Dr. Susan Schiffman reports that as we get older, our ability to detect odours, discriminate among different odours, and perceive the strength of odours diminishes. She found that odours for many elderly subjects are only half as intense as those for young people.

Though our sense of smell generally begins to weaken after our sixth decade, (in one study, about one quarter of subjects between the ages of sixty-five and eighty years old had a total lack of a sense of smell), Dr. Schiffman claims that the sense of smell of many of the octogenarians would rival that of twenty year olds.  She concludes that that elderly subjects who demonstrate good mental and physical health generally have a sense of smell which is comparable to that of young individuals.

Can you “exercise” your nose to keep it young?

Yes.  While researchers are searching for treatments to help counteract the effects that aging has on our sense of smell (and taste), there are “exercises” that you can do now to keep your nose (and taste buds) young.  Like our other senses, our sense of smell can be kept young with its constant and creative use that includes:

• Using your mind, not your nose to smell.  Imagine the scent of different fragrances in much the same way you imagine the notes of a song. We perceive most fragrances on an unconscious level.  Try to imagine the scent of a cinnamon candle, a peppermint stick, or lilacs in the spring.  Write a list and practice imagining these scents on a regular basis—perhaps, a few times a week.

• Purchase scented candles.  While you enjoy the benefits of their scented aromas, take the time to smell each one individually.  Smell often, but not for long.  Alternate between fragrances.  The more you do this, the sharper your sense of smell will become.  If you need to refresh your nose, step away, blow a few puffs of air through your nose, and then sniff again.   

• Stop and smell the flowers!  Everywhere around you are fragrances.  Your job is to notice and smell them.  In the course of each day, try to make a mental note of at least a couple dozen or more scents.  Try to associate what you did during the day while you experienced these fragrances.   Make fragrance diaries, recording fragrances along with your thoughts and activities.

• Vary your fragrances throughout the day.  Use one fragrance to wake up to, another to give you energy at midday, and another to calm and relax you in the evening.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luke Vorstermans

Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab, a world leader in the development of innovative products that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual health.  To learn more about enhancing your sex drive with Scentuelle patch go to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

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Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell - Part 2

All scent originates as a chemical. Without chemicals, our brain would not be able to perceive a scent. Our sense of smell is fully mature at birth and is one of the first senses that newborns experience.

All scent originates as a chemical.  Without chemicals, our brain would not be able to perceive, or “read” a scent.  All around us are currents of air which are in constant motion.  These currents contain myriads of complex combinations of odours that only trigger our attention when they irritate or please us.

Every time we breathe, our noses take in these chemicals, which pass over two small patch-like areas the size of a penny that contains five to six million tiny yellow receptor cells called the olfactory epithelium.  Located on these receptor cells are microscopic filaments called cilia that extend into a watery mucous that surrounds the epithelium.  On the cilia are proteins that respond to specific molecules.  Like a key in a lock, when these proteins come into contact with its corresponding odorant molecule, a series of biological interactions are initiated. 

First, there is an immediate rush of electrical activity as one experiences the perception of an odour.  Our sensory nerves have long filaments, or axons, that are located on the opposite end of our olfactory nerves. The axons send messages to nerves located in the olfactory bulb which is shaped like a protracted balloon. The millions of axons that line its circumference transmit a pattern of activity that is specific to the individual cilia that come into contact with their corresponding molecules.  Just as our brains are able to store and recognize complex notes from a symphony, it is also able to store and recognize complex combinations of fragrance notes that make up our favorite perfume.

How strong is our sense of smell?

Compared to a dog that has two hundred million olfactory sensors, humans have only five or six million.  While it may seem that humans have been short-changed where noses are concerned, we still can nevertheless, recognize thousands of different scents.

Though we may not have a piranha-sharp sense of smell, we can, for instance, detect some substances in dilutions of less than one part per several billion parts air. 

How sharp is our sense of smell at birth?

Unlike our other senses, our sense of smell is fully mature at birth and is one of the first senses that newborns experience.  Their sense of smell helps them to locate their mother and her source of food.  Without this functioning sense, baby animals would not be able to locate their mothers’ milk. 

Studies indicate that a newborn can recognize his or her mother’s nipple simply by its scent.  In one study, mothers washed one of their breasts while leaving the other left unwashed.  Over two-thirds of the babies tested chose the unwashed breast.

Research conducted by Dr. Ira Lott reveals that when a baby is introduced to a fragrance while being stroked—much like a mother would do while nursing—his or her ability to remember that scent is increased.  The results of her study suggest a connection between a baby’s sense of smell and the ability to learn at an early age.  Dr. Lott suggests that touching a baby increases his or her ability to remember a scent and may help to explain why a newborn readily recognizes his or her mother by her scent.

Other studies suggest that babies are most responsive to body odors but by the age of three they essentially have the same odor likes and dislike as adults. Newborns subjected to pleasant odors reacted positively while those subjected to unpleasant odors responded with “screwed up faces.”  Studies within the womb reveal that fetuses react to fragrances introduced through their mother while newborns are able to recognize her scent in as little as forty-eight hours after their birth. 

Children’s sense of smell—their odor likes and dislikes—do not parallel those of adults until the onset of puberty. A study conducted in 1976 and repeated in 1994 indicates that nine-year olds apparently do not have sensitivity to certain musk odors. However, their ability to detect particular odors is the same as both adults and young adults.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Luke Vorstermans

Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab, a world leader in the development of innovative products that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual health.  To learn more about enhancing your sex drive with Scentuelle patch go to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

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Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 1

Each day we breathe in billions of odorant molecules.  These scents have a significant impact on our physical and emotional well-being.  Learn some amazing facts about your sense of smell and its power to affect your health and pleasure.

Who among us cannot recall the smell of freshly-baked bread at dinner, the aroma of freshly-ground coffee in the morning, the heady scent of lilacs in the spring or the mouth-watering aroma of baked apples in the fall?  Interestingly, while most of us can recall these scents, quite often we also associate distinct memories with them as well.

In the course of a day each of us will take over twenty thousand breaths, inhale over 438 cubic feet of air and take in countless billions of odorant molecules.  Yet surprisingly, few of us will take notice of more than a mere handful of various scents.  Because we are constantly surrounded by swirls of aromas that enter and emanate from our bodies, we become desensitized to their various scents.

Whether or not we are aware of them, these odours have a significant impact on our physical and emotional well-being.

·         Did you know that your sense of smell is not only one of the first senses that you use as a newborn, but that it is the only one of your five senses that was fully mature at the moment of your birth?

·         Can the scent of peppermint help you to stay awake?

·         Does your hair colour affect the way you smell?

·         Did you know that most of the flavour that you “taste” actually comes from your sense of smell?

·         Did you know that your nose can help you to lose weight while helping your body absorb the maximum nutrients from your diet?

·         Do most females have better noses than males?

·         Can a loss of smell indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease?

·         Did you know that your sense of smell has a stronger link to your memory than any of your five senses?

·         Do overweight people have a heightened sensory pleasure of eating?

·         Did you know that no two apples smell alike?

·         Is there a link between a loss of hearing and certain learning disorders?

·         Did you know that, like your eyesight, your sense of smell diminishes as you age, but that you can “exercise” your nose to keep it “young?”

·         Was Leonardo da Vinci a perfumist?

·         Do people judge us by our scent?

This is the first in a series of 12 articles that explores the awesome power of our sense of smell and how you can harness its power for better health, pleasure and well-being.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Luke Vorstermans

Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab, a world leader in the development of innovative products that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual health.  To learn more about enhancing your sex drive with Scentuellepatch go to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

The Sense of Smell and Emotional Response

Smell is a specialised chemical sense. It is interesting to note that the olfactory cells are the only place in the human body where the central nervous system is in direct contact with the external environment. When we detect the smell of something, there is a direct contact between the molecules of scent and our own receptors.

The message regarding the molecule of scent is passed along the olfactory nerve to the nerve centre in the brain. The neurons of the olfactory nerve, control the inner responses, i.e. emotions and memories, as well as the body's hormones. There is no generally accepted classification of the basic types of smells recognized by man. The sense of smell can be very sensitive, sensing minute concentrations of some substances in the air.

There is considerable individual variation in the activity of the sense of smell. Adaption can occur to pleasant as well as nasty smells, due to changes in both the receptors and the central connections.

It is important to remember that the inhalation of the aromas of essential oils also has a profound and instantaneous effect on us today. The limbic lobe of the brain receives information about smell via the olfactory nerve and this part of the brain is also concerned with our emotional memory. The limbic system produces the autonomic responses that accompany emotional states and behaviours.

Particular scents can trigger strong, emotional responses which are pleasant or unpleasant according to our own individual experience. Which smells do you find repellent? What are your favourite scents? Perhaps the perfume of a favourite blossom or newly-mown grass, the scents of the garden after light summer rain, the smell of your favourite meal cooking or the perfume worn by a friend, the special scent of a baby or small child.

When oils are inhaled, micro-molecules of essential oils travel through the nasal passages to the limbic system of the brain which is the seat of memory and emotion.

The breathing in of essential oils is thought to trigger memories and emotions within the limbic system, which in turn stimulates a response within the entire system.

With the memory comes instant recall of the associated emotion - pleasure, happiness, laughter, affection or perhaps sadness, pain, grief.

For this reason, it is important to always heed the emotional responses to the aroma of the essential oils you intend to use. If the scent is in any way repellent, then it is wise to adjust your choice of oils for your blend. The subconscious, emotional responses are telling you something of vital importance and you would be wise to listen. Otherwise, you severely curtail the degree of benefit given.

Smell takes a direct, physical route to the brain because they employ nerve cells as transmitters and receivers. Odours travel directly through the olfactory system in the nose and the front part of the head into the limbic area of the brain which processes the smell.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.S. Braun

Dee is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified Reflexologist, and Reiki Master. Her site is AkobiAromas.com - a source of quality aromatherapy, herbal and reflexology information and products.

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What is that Smell?

We’ve all been there.  We walk into our office on Monday morning and something doesn’t smell quite right.  You look around thinking maybe you left a muffin in your drawer or a candy bar melted after the power outage, but you find nothing.  Since it’s not that bad and it comes and goes you spray air freshener in your cubical and press on.  But the smell get worse throughout the week and you aren’t the only one smelling it anymore.  What is that smell?  Where is it coming from?  

We’ve all been there.  We walk into our office on Monday morning and something doesn’t smell quite right.  You look around thinking maybe you left a muffin in your drawer or a candy bar melted after the power outage, but you find nothing.  Since it’s not that bad and it comes and goes you spray air freshener in your cubical and press on.  But the smell get worse throughout the week and you aren’t the only one smelling it anymore.  What is that smell?  Where is it coming from? 

Indoor air quality is an important component to keep employees healthy and productive.  Symptoms of deficient air quality can present in many different ways such as fatigue, headaches, difficulty focusing, and soreness of the nose, lungs, throat, and eyes.  These symptoms can be early warning signs for problems that lead to longer lasting health issues.  One indicator of poor air quality or that something un-sanitary is growing in your office building is a foul smell. 

Smell is a strong indicator that something somewhere has gone awry.  Foul odors are also one of the most difficult things to diagnose in a large office environment.  Many times a maintenance manager or a building maintenance company will call an industrial hygiene firm to come out and perform some air tests.  A good industrial hygienist will come out with several pieces of equipment and begin sampling the air.  Typically they will need to take at least one sample in the infected area, one sample outside the infected area, and one sample outdoors.

These different samples allow them to compare the infected area sample with what is in the air “normally” inside and outside.  Sometimes they take more than one sample in the infected area.  In cases where the mystery smell more resembles a musty odor, then the hygienist might pull up a piece of carpet to see if there is any mold growing underneath.  If they see anything that is suspicious looking on the surface then they should take a “surface sample.”  This sample will give the lab something to analyze besides just spores in the air.

Many factors play a role when it comes to air quality.   Bacteria do produce odors and when there is adequate buildup of certain bacteria then there will be smell.  Identifying why those particular bacteria have become prevalent in any situation is the job for an industrial hygienist.  People often try to clean odors with bleach.  While bleach will kill the surface bacteria, it does not penetrate deep and kill the root cause of the bacteria

. 

Indoor air quality is a catalyst for airborne pathogens and should be taken seriously within every office environmentIf you start smelling mystery smells contact an environmental, health and safety firm to perform tests in your office building.  To find a firm near you click here. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leighanna Cumbie 

 I just moved from Chicago to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I have two dogs and am a car enthusiast. Safety in today's work environment is a passion of mine.

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