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What the Nose Knows

The Science of Scent in Everyday Life

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About this listen

 Everything about the sense of smell fascinates us, from its power to evoke memories to its ability to change our moods and influence our behavior. Yet because it is the least understood of the senses, myths abound.

For example, contrary to popular belief, the human nose is almost as sensitive as the noses of many animals, including dogs; blind people do not have enhanced powers of smell; and perfumers excel at their jobs not because they have superior noses, but because they have perfected the art of thinking about scents.

In this entertaining and enlightening journey through the world of aroma, olfaction expert Avery Gilbert illuminates the latest scientific discoveries and offers keen observations on modern culture: how a museum is preserving the smells of John Steinbeck's Cannery Row; why John Waters revived the "smellie" in Polyester; and what innovations are coming from artists like the Dutch "aroma jockey" known as Odo7.

From brain-imaging laboratories to the high-stakes world of scent marketing, What the Nose Knows takes us on a tour of the strange and surprising realm of smell.

©2008 Avery Gilbert (P)2009 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Physiology

Critic reviews

"Avery Gilbert's whistle-stop journey...through, around and inside the nose is remarkably entertaining, and a great read for anyone seeking a tour that awakens the senses. Everybody who is anybody in the world of scent, and a few impostors too, make an appearance as we bounce from chapter to chapter, learning diverse olfactory gems." (New Scientist)
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was nice to hear. expected more inside secrets. but the book is more on the psychology of fragrance than on actuall is. though it is very nice and very informative and i m sure the author is a cool dude

expected for more inside secrets, but it was fun

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I can't believe I wasted hours listening to this book! good job it was free! It's boring, non informative and dedicated mostly to moaning about what different scientists said about smelling. If you expect to listen to something educating, look elsewhere.

The worst book on olfactory I have ever read

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