disorders of perception
concepts
We live in a sea of volatile molecules whose presence we are aware of largely or exclusively through our sense of smell. Smells warn us of environmental dangers (fire, toxic chemicals); they create a sense of intimacy with loved ones, whose signature odors we learn to recognize; they provide pleasure through perfumes and other desirable fragrances; and they constitute a substantial proportion of the flavors of food, as volatile molecules released in the oral cavity flow through the nasopharynx to the nose and stimulate olfactory receptors. [Source: Encyclopedia of Perception; Olfaction: Disorders]
olfaction: disorders