Happy World Taste & Smell Day
Today we celebrate the senses of smell & taste. And some exciting news!
I’ll begin by saying that, generally speaking, I’m not one to get wrapped up in these World [pick your topic] Day events, but this particular one is too near and dear to my heart. So, I’ll say it with meaning, “Happy World Taste & Smell Day!”
We spend so little time thinking about our sense of smell (and taste for that matter) that I made it the first topic of my An Aromatic Life podcast back in 2021, titled The Underappreciated Sense. In fact, my whole podcast focuses on this beautifully misunderstood sense that we so sadly ignore. Of course, my Substack focuses on it, too. Reinforcement can’t hurt, right? 😊
At any rate, I send you this brief email today to simply ask you to take a few moments of your day to purposefully connect with your sense of smell. Take in the aroma of your coffee or tea, savor each bite of your food, and notice the smells in the air as you go about your day.
I know some of you in my community aren’t able to smell, and I recognize this may feel like a slap in the face. Please know that's not my intention. I simply ask those who are able to smell to appreciate that they can. Because I’ve learned, as an ambassador for Fifth Sense, that when there’s more appreciation for the sense of smell, there’s significantly more empathy for those who are living without it.
Today more than anything, it’s my mission, as a person with “smell-ability,” to bring more awareness and compassion for people with anosmia, those affected by the inability to smell. My aim is to bring closer those who have the privilege to smell with those who are unable to smell because, through perspective, we can all learn from, and support, each other.
If you’re able to smell and are interested in learning more about what it’s like to live without the ability to smell, I highly recommend reading A World Without Smells and Season To Taste. Additionally you can get oral accounts of life with a smell dysfunction by listening to various conversations on my podcast.
Lastly, I want to share some exciting news! 🥳
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) just opened a brand new institution called The National Smell & Taste Center, which aims to advance our understanding of the chemical senses (smell and taste) and related disorders through comprehensive research, patient care, and education.
This new Center is an ambitious project being led by Dr. Joshua Levy and Dr. Paule Valery Joseph. As Dr. Levy says they're “intentionally dreaming big” which is music to my ears, or should I say perfume to my nose and candy to my tastebuds. 🙂
In celebration of World Taste & Smell Day and this new Center, I’ve released a special episode of my podcast to introduce you to the newly formed National Smell & Taste Center.
In the episode, I’ll tell you all about why the Center was created, what its mission is, and I’ll take you through the three pillars of focus: innovative research, comprehensive care, and education & outreach.
I’ll also share what the Center’s goals are for Year 1, and reveal where the points of focus are for the next 5 years. I’ll also talk about the biggest barriers to bringing meaningful advancements in the fields of smell & taste.
This episode is for everyone (globally) interested in knowing what the Center’s aims are, but more importantly, it will give you hope that we may finally be turning a corner on institutions truly taking the senses of smell & taste seriously!
You can listen to this episode and many more on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also go here.
I hope you enjoy your weekend. And please remember to smell everything!
With aromatic wishes,
Frauke