INTRODUCTION TO SMELL · LESSON 2 OF 5
How do people describe smells they cannot point to?
Smell has few words of its own, so people borrow them: from sources (lemony, woody), from other senses (warm, bright, soft) and from feelings.
SmellBook uses 32 shared descriptors. They describe perception, not measurements, and two people can apply the same word differently.
- Pick one Atlas entry and write three words for it before reading its descriptors.
- Compare your words with SmellBook's, then try the Smell Vocabulary course for words that are easy to confuse.
Smell only things you know are safe. Never smell unknown substances, chemicals, gas, smoke from fires or anything that could be harmful, and waft gently instead of inhaling hard. If you have a smell-related health concern, ask a medical professional.
woody · dry · warm · resinous
Open profile ↗SB-0017 · Source / Fragrance ReferenceLavenderaromatic · floral · herbal · dry
Open profile ↗SB-0007 · Place / EnvironmentSea Airsalty · airy · mineral · fresh
Open profile ↗SB-0009 · ExperienceFresh Breadbaked · warm · toasted · soft
Open profile ↗Smell Vocabulary course
Where smells come from
Introduction to Smell is free, like all of SmellBook Learn. It describes perception and cultural association, quotes scientific findings only from VERIFIED claims with their scope, and is not medical advice. Lessons on the biology of smell will be added when registered sources support them.