The Secret of Scent
" One man's passion for perfume leads him to explore one of the most intriguing scientific mysteries: What makes one molecule smell of garlic while another smells of rose? In this witty, engrossing, and wildly original volume, author Luca Turin explores the two competing theories of smell. Is scent determined by molecular shape or molecular vibrations? Turin describes in fascinating detail the science, the evidence, and the often contentious debate--from the beginnings of organic chemistry to the present day--and pays homage to the scientists who went before. With its uniquely accessible and captivating approach to science via art, The Secret of Scent will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered about the most mysterious of the five senses."--Publisher's website. Documents the science of olfaction and its relationship with fragrance, in an account that chronicles the history of organic chemistry from its origins in the nineteenth century through the modern world's perfume industry.
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What Hacker News says
- Noses and how we detect fragrances is actually done on an atomic level, basically by testing the reverberation of the bonds between molecules. So when two things smell the same they actually have the same bond strength, but can be completely different chemically. This is why creating artificial scents is so hit or miss.
The science and discovery of all this is really fascinating, I recommend The Secret of Scent by Turin: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Scent-Adventures-Perfume-Scienc...
- "The Secret of Scent" by Luca Turin [0] if I remember correctly goes into research that indicates that there may be quantum effects that explain how shape/chirality of molecules affect smell. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Scent-Adventures-Perfume-Scien...
So it is plausible that nature may have evolved to be affected by quantum effects.
- I read Luca Turin's book, "The Secret of Scent", years ago, and it certainly seemed engaging. Reviews on Amazon seem to be mixed.
