Once the odour molecules have dissolved in the mucus, they spread through it and attach to hair-like structures called cilia. The cilia are attached to receptor cells, the odour molecules then bind with these receptor cells which then generate a signal or impulse.

These signals are passed along tiny nerve fibres called axons, which pass through tiny perforations in the cribriform plate, a layer of bone in the base of the skull.  Bundles of many thousands of these axons together make up the olfactory nerve (much like the individual copper strands in an electrical cable). They converge on the edges of the olfactory bulb, a structure on the frontal lobe of the brain (there is actually one on each side of the brain, one for each nostril).

The olfactory bulb is responsible for processing the signals it receives from the receptors, and passing this information on to other parts of the brain, including the thalamus, limbic system and the orbitofrontal neocortex. 

Although the exact number is yet to be determined, scientists revealed in a 2014 journal that humans can identify at least one trillion different smells. It is thought that the actual number may be significantly higher than this, however, thanks to the 10 million smell receptors in everybody’s nose.

Our own smell is personal to us, and completely unique. How we smell is predetermined, and comes from the same genes which determine our body’s tissue type.

We all have our ‘scent blind spots’, smells which we cannot pick up. This means that we all smell things differently, and the scents we enjoy are entirely unique to us.

A 2015 poll of 2,000 UK adults found that a freshly-baked loaf is the favourite smell in the UK. After that, roses, vanilla, lavender, lemon and scented candles were at the top spot.

Smell is the first sense to develop, with unborn babies enjoying fully-formed and functioning smell. This sense then continues to play a major role in our early development, with the smell of crayons routinely noted as one of our earliest memories from childhood.

When you encounter a smell tied to something meaningful in your past, you first feel the emotion followed by a cognitive recognition, information that was stored in your brain. 

Smell is the only sense that appears to work like that. All of our other senses are what Herz refers to as top-down: you recognize the stimuli cognitively and then the feeling follows, no matter how immediate.

- Marcel Proust, in his 1913 novel: “À la recherche du temps perdu”

Extensive research shows that these smell-induced memories are more emotional and evocative than recollections elicited by other sensory stimuli, such as sight or sound. They also tend to be older, flooding your brain with feelings of childhood.

The clean and refreshing scent of fresh lemon has the power to enhance your performance and improve your attitude if there is something that you are stressed out about. 

Lavender has been used as aromatherapy for decades. It has strong healing properties that have been shown to reduce stress levels. 

Jasmine, similar to lavender, is used to calm the nerves of those that are stressed out or overwhelmed. Not only does it reduce those feelings of stress, but it actually is able to stimulate feelings of positivity and energy.

Peppermint is a great tool to be used during brainstorming, as it has been shown to invigorate the mind while creating a feeling of clarity.

It has been shown to increase confidence in people, leading people to work better and harder. 

OECs are not neurons, they are cells of the olfactory nervous system that support the natural regeneration of the olfactory nerve that occurs throughout life.

These cells exhibit unique properties supporting neuronal survival and growth. 

Transplantation of OECs is emerging as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury but further research needs to be conducted to develop successful and standardised transplantation methods.

In 2019, she completed her PhD, “Nose-first: practices of smell walking and smellscape mapping” at the Royal College of Art.

You can have a look at her portfolio on: https://sensorymaps.com/projects/

The virtual map requires you use your imagination to conjure the smells; from the weak and insipid coffee floating near the hospital canteen to the many bodies in the busy entrance halls, from metallic odours of stale blood emanating from the operating theatre to the sweaty, sticky, stale pong of the waiting room.

Research took the form of an open question snowballed to friends and colleagues of the Sensing Spaces team members and the designer. The smell descriptions were simplified from the original longer descriptions and collected into similar spaces. Smell shapes are an artistic interpretation of the descriptor.

- On a scale from 1 to 10: How well has the exhibition communicated information about olfaction?
-  On a scale from 1 to 10: How interesting do you find research on olfactory neurons?

- On a scale from 1 to 10: How motivated are you to learn more about research on olfaction and olfactory neurons?
- On a scale from 1 to 10: How well has this exhibition brought art and science together?

- Would you recommend this exhibition to a friend?
- Do you have any comments to make on how to improve this exhibition?