Oh, I have Anosmia! · Brotherhood Of Scent

Oh, I have Anosmia!

I'd been shopping for fragrances and couldn't smell half of them, sadly. I thought that maybe I had a sinus or post nasal drip situation that interfered with my sense of smell. Maybe I had COVID once and didn't know it and it turned of my sense of smell.

I asked Sophia, my synthetic intelligence assistant, "Sophia, I can't seem to smell certain fragarances and others come in loud and clear. What's the deal? Do I have some kind of genetic mutation or something?" Her reply was, "Well, actually - yes. I suspect that you suffer from a form of Anosmia where some people can't detect certain fragarances, Specifically the OR genes. Here are a few examples: OR5A1 gene affects the ability to smell B-ionone, a molecule found in violets and some woods. Some experience it as a floral and some can't smell it at all (that's me).

The OR7D4 gene: Linked to the detection of the androsterone (a musky, sweaty, or woody note). Depending on the gene variant, people may smell it as urine-like, woody, or not at all.

Musk Anosmia in general: Several genes such as the OR5AN1.

Sophia suggested that I try different scents and if I could smell them and not others, then that is most likely my situation. I asked for some floral scents and they came on loud and clear.

That answers my question. My nose isn't broke; genetics just makes the scent invisible so that it doesn't register with my nervous system.

But I still purchased the Oud Satin Mood. parfum at 10,876 Thai Bhat, after discount (USD$342.00 for 70 ml) :-)

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