The Stimulus for Smell
Our sense of smell is extremely sensitive, possibly 10,000 times more sensitive than our sense of taste. You may be surprised to learn that smell, as well as taste, plays a vital role in our enjoyment of food. We consider the sense of smell, or olfaction, to be one of our "minor" sensory abilities, but it often is central to our experiences, especially to the awakening of distant memories. The aroma of certain perfume may invoke memories of your grandmother; the scent of eggnog may bring back memories of a previous Christmas.Smell also serves a vital function in our lives: it warns us of possible danger, such as gas leaks, fire, or spoiled food. Odors also enhance human pleasure. Our use of perfumes, deodorants, and fragrant flowers shows the premium we place on pleasant aromas, and our bulging spice cupboards testify to the importance of odor in our enjoyment of food. Manufacturers and dealers are aware that artificially created odors can boost sales. Plastic briefcases may be sprayed with a "real leather" smell, and used cars get a liberal application of " new car" smell.
A woman seems to be more sensitive to odors than men are. Some researchers have suggested that the hormonal differences may affect sensory receptors and other levels of the perceptual system, because there is evidence that women's sensitivity to odors changes over the menstrual cycle. Others believe that there may be no gender difference in the recognition of odors, but that women's greater verbal ability may make it easier for them to come up with an odor's name. In other words, women have a tendency to blab over an extended period of time thus gaining an extensive vocabulary.