The Science Of How Smells Work - Harold McGee - #257

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Oh yes, hello people, welcome back to the show. My guest today is Harold McGee, author and food expert, and we are talking about how smells work. Our sense of smell sits at the front of our daily experience, and yet our understanding of what smells are and how they're processed is almost non-existent, or at least mine was before this episode. So today, expect to learn why smell might be the oldest of our senses, how our brains combine what hits our nose to create sensations, whether smell will be the new frontier for the entertainment industry, what an opera singer smells like, and much more. In other news, this episode of the podcast is brought to you by brand new sponsor Michael Hannah. Michael Hannah are a homegrown British toiletries company with a focus on making you smell as good as you feel. This is done not only through natural organic and quality ingredients, being sulfate free with essential oils known to relieve stress, boost your mood, help with anxiety and help with mental health, but also they're an official partner of Calm and £2.50 at least of every product sold goes to the campaign against living miserably. Their goal is to deliver a positive message whilst delivering quality products to your door. Being an independent brand means that they can offer a quality product with zero compromise. They don't have shareholders to worry about, they don't have to listen to accountants, they are free to give the absolute best quality that they can. They're also cruelty free, so it means that if you care about bunny rabbits, you do not have to worry. They also care about our mental health, which is why they are an official partner of Calm and they are dedicated to trying to raise awareness for mental health. Mental health is a hugely passionate topic of mine. I'm very, very happy to be assisting the guys and working with them. You also get 25% off all products throughout December. So if you are yet to buy someone a Christmas present, getting them some toiletries that raise awareness for mental health and smell great is the perfect solution. Head to michaelhannah.co.uk and use the code MW25 for 25% off absolutely everything. Make one of your purchases support a charity that we all care about michaelhannah.co.uk and the code MW25 for 25% off. In other other news, this episode is brought to you by Manscaped, precision engineered tools for your family jewels. You can even use it in collaboration with Michael Hannah. You know, he could smell great and be a little bit a little bit less hairy. Manscaped have just launched their brand new Lawnmower 3.0, the greatest ball and body hair trimmer ever created, featuring a cutting edge ceramic blade to reduce grooming accidents, a 90 minute battery so that you can take a longer shave, waterproof technology, which allows you to groom in the shower and an LED light, which illuminates your private areas for a closer and more precise trim. Also, you get 20% off and free shipping with the code Modern Wisdom, another fantastic Christmas opportunity. Just don't take it as a hint. If you receive it, it's not a hint that you're too hairy. It's just a way to facilitate you being less hairy. I think that's the nicest way to put it. But yes, you cannot use your old shaver. This is the year, 2021 is the year of not using an old electric trimmer for the most sensitive part of your body. The Lawnmower 3 is the solution to that with a 7,000 RPM motor that has quiet stroke technology so you can be shaving while everyone else is asleep and no one will know. Head to manscaped.com and enter the code Modern Wisdom for 20% off and free shipping and it will be delivered in time for Christmas. Head to manscaped.com, code Modern Wisdom for 20% off and free shipping. But for now, it's time for the wise and wonderful Harold McGee.
What have you spent the last few years researching?

**Harold McGee** (4:28)
Smell, and more particularly smells. So things in the world that we encounter and experience every day, that we generally don't pay a lot of attention to, and that turn out to be really, really, well, at least interesting enough to me to spend 10 years on it.

**Chris Williamson** (4:48)
I mean, interesting enough to write, everyone who's watching on YouTube is going to be able to see the size of this tome here. I also have to admit, I ruptured my Achilles a couple of months ago, and this is the only book that was high enough to work as a step for when I also needed to do some of my exercises. So also it's got multiple uses. Let's start then, let's define our terms. What is a smell?