The Power of Scent

Nothing is possible without the nose! We breathe, smell and taste with it. Smells warn us of dangers, and scents can awaken memories and feelings. All without including the mind. The nose decides who we find seductive or who we simply can't smell. We often only realize how important smell is when illnesses like corona rob us of this sense.

Everyone's scent preferences are individual. Just like our own scent, which sends out messages and helps us find a partner.

The exciting thing is: We don't just perceive these messages with our nose; scents have an effect on the whole body. As the latest scientific research has shown, they can also accelerate the healing of wounds, change the heartbeat and improve hair growth and digestion. They also influence the brain: we may become calmer or more active. Even tumor cells react to scents and reduce their growth. Conversely, tumor cells themselves emit odorous substances, which trained dogs can recognize.

This book is a translation of the original German edition "Die Lust am Duft" by Hanns Hatt and Regine Dee, published by Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE in 2023. The translation was done with the help of an artificial intelligence machine translation tool. The authors subsequently revised and added new content, and the text was copy-edited to enhance its style.

Hanns Hatt, Professor of Cell Physiology at Ruhr University Bochum, holds doctorates in zoology, human physiology and medicine. He is one of the world's most renowned odor researchers.

Regine Dee is a journalist and author. She works for various science magazines and also writes and publishes biographies.