In part because my father was a nuclear physicist and I spent a lot of time in various labs, I am absolutely fascinated by this development! How incredible!
Apologies if you've previously covered this in a previous post some years ago, but do you think this could lead to a treatment for long covid anosmia? I have a dear friend who hasn't been able to taste or smell anything to any degree of realness since covid. Attempts to awaken the faculty through scent therapy didn't seem to work.
Congratulations ! You’ve known for a long time that the Earth isn’t flat!
I have a question: in perfumery and within this theory, how could we explain unexpected notes, emergent notes, contextual transformations, perception shifts, etc.? Would it work the same way as in sound, with harmonics or phase oppositions ?
For example, a perfume ingredient like Toscanol is described as anise-like and recommended as a replacement for basil. Used in a green, transparent patchouli context, it is indeed anisic. But when used in a dark aromatic thyme–lavender–cedar context, it turns into dark chocolate. It’s very strange.
Another example: delta methyl ionone, described as floral, violet, powdery, when combined in the right proportions (the ratio seems to matter) with the musk Habanolide (described as clean and slightly metallic), produces a very distinctive smell that I would describe as frozen-raspberry-stainless-steel, as if all the other facets of the two ingredients had completely disappeared.
Any Clue ?
Looking forward to learning what you find out, too !
This is exciting! BTW, I am totally anosmic to musks which seem to be in the middle of the spectral range....I would have expected for olfactory "deafness" to be more frequent at the extremes of the spectrum as in hearing.
IIRC, Luca mentioned in one of his books that musk molecules are simply so large that they are awkward to perceive, and many people are anosmic to one or another. He explained that perfumers often use a mix of musks to compensate for this, which is another reason perfumes smell differently to different people. So while musks may be at the center of the spectral range, they are at the far end of the size range.
I didn't see your response until now. Thank you - what I understand is that the molecules not only fit into pockets on the olfactory bulb, but also vibrate at different frequencies. These occurence - simultaneous docking and vibrating - are what give us a smell. And it happens with so much sensitivity and precision that a slight movement in the dock alters the scent. Is this a generally good understanding?
C'mon Luca T -- I've yet to give yr essay/post a complete 'close' reading, but I'm sure you could give us one of your brilliant layperson's analogies and really get our lightbulbs to light up ;-)
This is absolutely thrilling, exciting times ahead!
Could this get us closer to reproducing smell vibrationally via sound?
And it made me laugh when I read:
‘The only sensation came if somone punched you in the nose (metallic, blood).’ ….a brilliant way to describe those notes to one who isn’t familiar with scent and fragrance!
Great support comment. I really appreciate you turning me on to this theory in your earlier emails. I have used ultrasound in the past for recovery for shoulder repairs and physical therapy. I never thought there would be a Connection for it on how we smell. how exciting.
This is absolutely amazing. My Mother has a cochlear implant, she's waitng for the second one, and it never stops to amaze me, how this little thingy creates a whole world of sounds every morning. For quite some time now, I have wanted to transcribe the world of sounds of a cochlear implant user into theatre (i'm a playwright). It would be even more thrilling and more impossible, I think, to transcribe the smell implant into theatre 😀 Thank you once again, Luca, for your amazing writing and sharing the beauty of the science with us! And your entry about model train... One of my favorites. I was very moved. I love trains and I love when people remember their child-selves do vividly.
May I add a PSA? I learned this week that La Via del Profumo (profumo dot it) has resumed shipment to the US! This means US-based perfumistas can now order the Kit of Perfumery Bases that Luca wrote about a few weeks ago.
FYI, I was unable to find the kit by searching the website, but when I clicked the link in Luca's post, I got to it immediately. And it's marked down from 90 to 85 euros. ENJOY!
Very exciting discovery. 👏. I said you were gonna complete your masterpiece and I see this happening. This pushes the needle in your direction. You’re 2-D or 3-D mapping of the vibrational energy to odorant will be eventually mapped out with your assistance. This discovery is going to lead to new Perfume notes and accords being discovered. I see a new book written by you in the near future.
In part because my father was a nuclear physicist and I spent a lot of time in various labs, I am absolutely fascinated by this development! How incredible!
I agree.
Apologies if you've previously covered this in a previous post some years ago, but do you think this could lead to a treatment for long covid anosmia? I have a dear friend who hasn't been able to taste or smell anything to any degree of realness since covid. Attempts to awaken the faculty through scent therapy didn't seem to work.
Not an expert, but if the bulb still works, why not?
Echoing Eric above, perhaps THIS is the team that might have brought you on board years ago. I look forward to learning what you find out.
By the looks of these charming guys, years ago they were in primary school!
Holy moly. This is groundbreaking.
Thrilling. And congrats on your own work towards this.
Incredible! So one day there’ll be a contraption capable of pulsing the vibrations equivalent to 1919 Mitsouko? One can dream 😂
Yes but hit the wrong button and you get Love in White!
😮 🤣
Congratulations ! You’ve known for a long time that the Earth isn’t flat!
I have a question: in perfumery and within this theory, how could we explain unexpected notes, emergent notes, contextual transformations, perception shifts, etc.? Would it work the same way as in sound, with harmonics or phase oppositions ?
For example, a perfume ingredient like Toscanol is described as anise-like and recommended as a replacement for basil. Used in a green, transparent patchouli context, it is indeed anisic. But when used in a dark aromatic thyme–lavender–cedar context, it turns into dark chocolate. It’s very strange.
Another example: delta methyl ionone, described as floral, violet, powdery, when combined in the right proportions (the ratio seems to matter) with the musk Habanolide (described as clean and slightly metallic), produces a very distinctive smell that I would describe as frozen-raspberry-stainless-steel, as if all the other facets of the two ingredients had completely disappeared.
Any Clue ?
Looking forward to learning what you find out, too !
This is only the first step. Going from sine waves to Mozart will take a little longer 😉
This is exciting! BTW, I am totally anosmic to musks which seem to be in the middle of the spectral range....I would have expected for olfactory "deafness" to be more frequent at the extremes of the spectrum as in hearing.
Correct, likely only one or two receptors.
IIRC, Luca mentioned in one of his books that musk molecules are simply so large that they are awkward to perceive, and many people are anosmic to one or another. He explained that perfumers often use a mix of musks to compensate for this, which is another reason perfumes smell differently to different people. So while musks may be at the center of the spectral range, they are at the far end of the size range.
I dont understand this but wonder if this also can contribute to synesthesia?
Which part do you not understand? I’d be happy to try and explain it better.
I didn't see your response until now. Thank you - what I understand is that the molecules not only fit into pockets on the olfactory bulb, but also vibrate at different frequencies. These occurence - simultaneous docking and vibrating - are what give us a smell. And it happens with so much sensitivity and precision that a slight movement in the dock alters the scent. Is this a generally good understanding?
C'mon Luca T -- I've yet to give yr essay/post a complete 'close' reading, but I'm sure you could give us one of your brilliant layperson's analogies and really get our lightbulbs to light up ;-)
Brilliant news!
This is exciting. I’m looking forward to hearing of further developments.
This is absolutely thrilling, exciting times ahead!
Could this get us closer to reproducing smell vibrationally via sound?
And it made me laugh when I read:
‘The only sensation came if somone punched you in the nose (metallic, blood).’ ….a brilliant way to describe those notes to one who isn’t familiar with scent and fragrance!
Great support comment. I really appreciate you turning me on to this theory in your earlier emails. I have used ultrasound in the past for recovery for shoulder repairs and physical therapy. I never thought there would be a Connection for it on how we smell. how exciting.
This is absolutely amazing. My Mother has a cochlear implant, she's waitng for the second one, and it never stops to amaze me, how this little thingy creates a whole world of sounds every morning. For quite some time now, I have wanted to transcribe the world of sounds of a cochlear implant user into theatre (i'm a playwright). It would be even more thrilling and more impossible, I think, to transcribe the smell implant into theatre 😀 Thank you once again, Luca, for your amazing writing and sharing the beauty of the science with us! And your entry about model train... One of my favorites. I was very moved. I love trains and I love when people remember their child-selves do vividly.
Holy Houndstooth, Batman !!!! This is Massive. ;-). (and it only took 3 decades. ;-). )
🤩 W 🤩 O 🤩 W 🤩 ❣️ 🤩 ❣️ 🤩 ❣️ 🤩
May I add a PSA? I learned this week that La Via del Profumo (profumo dot it) has resumed shipment to the US! This means US-based perfumistas can now order the Kit of Perfumery Bases that Luca wrote about a few weeks ago.
FYI, I was unable to find the kit by searching the website, but when I clicked the link in Luca's post, I got to it immediately. And it's marked down from 90 to 85 euros. ENJOY!
Thank you for this!
Hi Linda, I would love to purchase these bases. Can you give me a bit more detail on how to find them?
🙏
Of course! The link is embedded in the first paragraph of Luca's November 2, 2025, post entitled La Via del Profumo.
I think this is it:
https://naturalnicheperfume.com/shop/uncategorized/kit-of-perfumery-bases/
Very exciting discovery. 👏. I said you were gonna complete your masterpiece and I see this happening. This pushes the needle in your direction. You’re 2-D or 3-D mapping of the vibrational energy to odorant will be eventually mapped out with your assistance. This discovery is going to lead to new Perfume notes and accords being discovered. I see a new book written by you in the near future.