Can You Smell that Smell?

Everyone's nostrils have the ability to inhale smells but something happens between the transmissions of the scent as it travels up the nose and into the neurons inside of our brains that categorize the smells as good or bad. What may smell fine to me may not be as pleasing for you and, in some instances, certain folks may think it stinks!

I am reminded of a song by Lynyrd Skynyrd that was recorded in the 1970's called, "That Smell."
You can listen to it here.
The song lyrics have to do with drug use and abuse but part of the lyrics begs the question:
"Ooh, ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell?"

Hyperosmia is the oversensitivity to certain smells - someone wearing a squirt of perfume may smell like they bathed in the stuff to the person who has hyperosmia. This condition can cause some folks to do extreme things to avoid smelling what they consider to be offensive smells.

"Can't You Smell That Smell?"

I actually witnessed an individual who works with the public on a daily basis take a can of air freshener out from under the counter when a customer left. "He smells so bad" she said as she sprayed the air above the counter with a sweeping motion.

"Don't you think he stunk?" she asked me, and truthfully, I couldn't smell him at all.

The same thing happened at a convenient store recently. A landscaper came inside to purchase a bottle of water and after he left, the clerk proceeded to spray the air with freshener. "Didn't he smell just awful! Some of these immigrant workers smell the worst" she exclaimed, more to herself than as conversation with me, but I proceeded to answer her anyway:

"Actually, I was too busy smiling at him than to notice his smell. He had a beautiful smile."

The clerk seemed taken aback and said again, "Can't you smell that smell? I can still smell it - it is lingering here."

The answer is "No," I don't smell a thing and I wanted to ask her if she had hyperosmia.

Sources:

http://www.hdac.org/features/article.php?p_articleNumber=328

http://www.smellandtaste.org/index.cfm?action=about