Distillations Episode 88: A Sense of Scent
From: Chemical Heritage Foundation
Series: Distillations - The Chemistry Podcast
Length: 12:00
In this episode of Distillations we're talking about what the nose knows. First up we learn about the nose itself -- how it works and how losing your sense of smell can affect your day-to-day life. Next we explore scent identification and how scientists are working to replicate the amazing sniffing powers of our canine friends. And finally, producer Douglas Smith tells us about the iPhone app "Bloom."
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Piece Description
In this episode of Distillations we're talking about what the nose knows. First up we learn about the nose itself -- how it works and how losing your sense of smell can affect your day-to-day life. Next we explore scent identification and how scientists are working to replicate the amazing sniffing powers of our canine friends. And finally, producer Douglas Smith tells us about the iPhone app "Bloom."
Broadcast History
Podcast on February 12, 2010.
Transcript
DISTILLATIONS EPISODE 88: SMELL THIS
0:00 UP THEME MUSIC
Hello, and welcome to Distillations – extracts from the past, present, and future of chemistry. I’m Meir Rinde. [sniff sniff] Ah – the smell of the Distillations recording studio – part coffee, part copy paper, with of a hint of old books. On today’s show we explore the sense of smell. We’ll learn how your body’s natural scent can act like a fingerprint, and we’ll test a new iphone app that combines a scent with a song. That’s all coming up on today’s episode of Distillations.
MONOLOGUE – HOW THE NOSE WORKS
In Diane Ackerman’s A Natural History of the Senses, she writes “Smells spur memories, but they also rouse our dozy sense, pamper and indulge us, help define our self-image, stir the cauldron of our seductiveness…” Scent is indeed powerful, but often difficult to describe, and harder still to capture. Perfumers have spent ce...
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Timing and Cues
00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:08 The Nose
03:19 Scent Identification
05:53 Feature: Perfume Vinyl
11:27 Closing Credits
Additional Credits
This episode was written and researched by Hilary Domush, Victoria Indivero, and Michal Meyer.
Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “1,000,000 Things That Smell Better Than You,” by Andy Steve and Andy, “Dead Nose,” by Phunt Your Friends, and “The Sun is Odd” from Jesus Before Herod (opera), composed by Gabriel von Wayditch, performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
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