A brief history of olfaction and olfactometry

The sense of smell has been a cause for speculation and fascination over the centuries. An appreciation of odours has been deeply rooted in many cultures, including ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians. The level of understanding of the anatomy and physiology of olfaction which our ancestors had was slight, and much remains to be discovered. This paper explores the progression of knowledge over the years to the present day. Particular emphasis is placed on odour classification and olfactometry, and on the techniques whereby great scientific minds have sought to quantify that human sense which is arguably least quantifiable. A review of some of the current methods of olfactometry is included within this remit.