National Sense of Smell Day is an annual event conducted on the last Saturday of April to raise awareness of the sense of smell. Smell is one of the five senses and enables people to detect potentially hazardous substances in their environment, such as in their food or the air. There is a natural decline in the sense of smell as individuals age. It is essential, due to the diminished sense of scent, to raise awareness about early detection of olfactory loss in order to prevent its progression by taking the necessary corrective measures.
The background of National Sense of Smell Day
The Sense of Smell Institute (S.S.I. ), the research division of The Fragrance Foundation, established National Sense of Smell Day in 1994. In museums and educational institutions across the United States, a variety of activities are designed to help children comprehend the significance of the sense of scent. One of the primary reasons for commemorating this day is to acknowledge the importance of the sense of smell in our daily lives.
The day also raises awareness of the recently discovered disorders associated with olfaction, the scientific term for the sense of scent. Anosmia is a medical condition in which a person cannot scent. Hyperosmia is a rare sensory condition in which individuals become hypersensitive to specific odours.
In evolution, it is believed that the sense of scent was the oldest sense that nearly all living things once possessed. Before the evolution of the senses of sight and touch, animals relied on their sense of scent to identify potential threats.
Aristotle was among the first philosophers to discuss the sense of scent. In 1991, two American scientists, Drs. Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck, conducted extensive research on how individuals perceive various odours, despite the fact that no study or theory defines the olfactory system in detail. In 2004, their discoveries earned them the Nobel Prize.
National Zipper Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities
Poem In Your Pocket Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Poetry
World Healing Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities
5 PERFUME FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
The ‘Bacon Classic’ is a fried pork-scented perfume inspired by flesh.
The perfume ‘Hyraceum’ contains rodent faeces.
Chanel’s ‘Cuir de Russie’ incorporates beaver tail oil.
Our olfactory system disregards odours to which we are constantly exposed.
Pulse points emit heat and are ideal for aroma application.
NATIONAL SENSE OF SMELL DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | April 30 | Saturday |
2023 | April 29 | Saturday |
2024 | April 27 | Saturday |
2025 | April 26 | Saturday |
2026 | April 25 | Saturday |