(no subject)

[wispfox]

So, while I was trying to fall asleep, my brain decided to wake me up by thinking about scent, and people's perception of it.

I tend to find that, at least to some extent, I can identify people by scent, especially if they are the type of people I hug.

A recent example of this was when I was visiting a friend, was cold because of the air conditioner, and was lent a sweatshirt.

I could tell, while putting it on, that it was my friend's, and not his wife's, entirely by scent. I was amused, and shared this fact. The first response was an apology - at which point I made note that it was not a *problem*, nor an unpleasant smell, but that it amused me. And actually, I tend to find most people whose natural scent I am familiar with pleasant - not even simply neutral.

I find it rather sad that people's first response to being told that they have a scent (note: I did *not* say that the shirt smelled) is an apology. Yes, I have a rather sensitive nose. Yes, I appreciate people bathing. But even freshly cleaned people have a scent all their own, unless they've somehow masked it with another scent.

Of course, most masking scents bother the heck out of me, partly because people tend to use too much.

I wonder if there is a difference in how sensitive people's senses of smell are, depending on where they grew up? Also, perhaps, on if they ever tried to differentiate the scents around themselves.

Like, for example, I can smell rain - frequently, immediately before it happens. And absolutely once it starts. (and MMMM! the feeling of impending lightning... but, oh, how annoying when it does not *happen*)

I can smell what I call 'green' - otherwise defined as whatever the general scent of plants is.

I don't *think*, but don't know if, I can track down clean water by scent. I've never tried. I doubt I can, though, because I suspect that the scent of green, generally being moist, would confuse my nose.

I can smell spring (wet and mud), and winter (cold), and heat. I can smell humid (different from impending rain), and tend to correct myself when I'm complaining about heat, but mean humid. I don't *like* humid much, at least not when it's enough to make me sweat in temperatures I would not otherwise be bothered by.

I seem to be babbling, and hungry, so I'm going to go find food, and perhaps try sleeping again. On the plus side, not being able to sleep is not as huge a problem when I don't have a job to go to tomorrow morning. :)