Why _can't_ we record smells?

[wispfox]

Or touch?

I was outside briefly to put things in the shed, and was all "I want to take a picture of the smells!"

After a pause, I was bemused to realize that no, I cannot photograph the smell of our lilacs in bloom. Nor the feel of things.

Why not?!

Comments

[gothtique.livejournal.com]

I read an article recently in Smithsonian magazine about the technology being used to recreate the Star Trek "Tricorder".
I suspect, at some point in the future, it will be possible to take a sample of a smell, analize and save it, and then find the chemistry to recreate it.
It would be done much the way they make color samples now when you go to the hardware store. You hand the person a color. They scan it. The machine does the chemistry to recreate it. Tah Dah, you go home with paint that matches the drapes.

Would it destroy or explode the perfume industry? Makes me wonder.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

This would be fabulous! Do want. ;)