The Forgotten Sense

The first thing I do when I go home to visit my parents is take a deep breath. I want to embrace and relish in the sweet smell of home. To me, it’s the smell of comfort, family, memories and love.

Every morning I get a cup of coffee. As I take the first sip, I happily breathe in its strong aroma. To me, it’s the smell of adulthood, early mornings and good conversation.

At the beach I lay by the ocean. I inhale the salty air with a smile on my face. To me, it’s the smell of vacation, nature and summer.

The sense of smell is often known as the “forgotten sense.” There’s not a lot of scientific understanding about the way we smell, but we do know that it’s vital to our lives. Just like our other senses – touch, sight, hear and taste – it’s a way for us to understand the environment around us. It helps us sense danger, in the event of fires or chemicals. It allows us to enjoy and taste food. It provides comfort and familiarity in everyday life.

I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have the inability to smell. Some of my fondest memories rely on smell. Yet, there are some people who have to go through life with odorless memories. Their life is a passing of scentless days. These people suffer from an ailment called anosmia – the inability to smell.

Last week, I read an article on Slate.com about a woman who developed anosmia as an adult. It’s a heart-breaking article about her life without smell. She suffers from bouts of depression. She misses the taste of food and the familiar smell of her husband. An excerpt from the article reads:

The article reminded me how I take the simple pleasures in my life for granted. It grounded me. I want to absorb everything I can now, every scent, every color, every feel, every taste because life isn’t forever. I want to enjoy it. Live it. And you should, too.

-Mary