Children could benefit from improved education in using their sense of smell, according to Dr. Will Tullett, a historian specializing in olfaction at the University of York. He argues that training people to better engage their noses may enhance wellbeing and provide a deeper understanding of the surrounding world.
Speaking ahead of the publication of his book *Sniff: A History of Smells* on September 8, Dr. Tullett highlighted the impact of modern environments on olfactory abilities. He noted that pollution can impair people’s capacity to distinguish odors, while many everyday items—ranging from margarines to car interiors and even household products—have often been emptied of their original scents and replaced with synthetic fragrances. This, he said, raises questions about how such widespread use of artificial smells influences our ability to discriminate between different odors.
To address these challenges, Dr. Tullett advocates for olfactory education beginning at the primary and secondary school levels, supplemented by training opportunities in the home. Such education could involve encouraging individuals to actively smell a variety of objects, thereby expanding their sensory vocabulary. He compared this practice to the way sommeliers develop their skills by extensively sampling and identifying a wide range of aromas, often by exploring marketplaces and other aromatic-rich environments.
Beyond sensory development, Dr. Tullett emphasized that a greater focus on smell could improve people’s self-awareness and safety. For instance, olfactory cues can play a practical role in determining the freshness of food, potentially reducing reliance on expiration dates and contributing to sustainability by minimizing unnecessary waste.
Despite observations that people sometimes express the importance of smell in their lives, Dr. Tullett suggested that many lack the linguistic tools or confidence to discuss their experiences with odors. He rejected the notion that the sense of smell is generally underappreciated, instead positing that individuals value their olfactory sensations but often do not have the means to articulate them.
Addressing a common assumption, Dr. Tullett also challenged the idea that historical periods were more malodorous than today. According to him, while the specific scents of past eras differed, the overall presence of odors was neither greater nor lesser than in the contemporary world.