Philosophy Wire: Fragrance... Forever…

From floral perfume to fruity body wash and shampoos, scents heavily influence consumer purchases. But for most, the smell doesn't last long after showering. Scientists have now developed a way to get those fragrances to stick to the skin longer instead of washing down the drain immediately after being applied. [1] Day by day we fail. Because we forget our nature. And deny the nature of the cosmos. Smell that rose. So lovely. This aroma… I can still remember it. Lasting forever. Especially because it does not…

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Philosophy Wire: Autism. Smelling the opposites…

Autism typically involves the inability to read social cues. We most often associate this with visual difficulty in interpreting facial expression, but new research at the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that the sense of smell may also play a central role in autism. As reported in Nature Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers show that people on the autism spectrum have different - and even opposite - reactions to odors produced by the human body. These odors are ones that we are unaware of smelling, but which are, nonetheless, a part of the nonverbal communication that takes place between people, and which have been shown to affect our moods and behavior. Their findings may provide a unique window on autism, including, possibly, on the underlying developmental malfunctions in the disorder. [1] Smelling the same. Smelling the opposite. Makes no difference. The jasmine will be there anyway. Casting fear. Spreading love and nostalgia. All at the same time. Smell the jasmine. It is not the jasmine smelling. It is you…

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Philosophy Wire: Nose cycles… Life cycles…

When people tell you, “wake up and smell the roses,” they might be giving you bad advice. Your sense of smell may fluctuate in sensitivity over the course of 24 hours, in tune with our circadian clocks, with your nose best able to do its job during the hours before you go to sleep, according to a study. [1] Smell that flower. Yes, it reminds you of your parents’ home. You were a child. You are grown up now. And yet, you wish you were there again. Let go of your body and your “clock”. There is no clock. The time had stopped back then. When you smelled that flower and your mother called you for supper…

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Philosophy Wire: Smelling...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-07-31]: The first transatlantic "scent messages" were exchanged today (June 17) between New York City and Paris, and they smelled like champagne and macaroons. The scent messages, called oNotes, are composed in an iPhone app called oSnap, which also launched today. Using oSnap, users can mix and match from 32 primitive aromas to produce more than 300,000 unique scents, Edwards said. [1] Smelling is the only sense which can bring back to you old lost memories. The sense we use less, the most uncared for, is  also the most mysteriously powerful. How does the world smell? How does your first school sandwich smell? How does grandma smell? How does your first car smell? With closed eyes you usually see more...

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