Jamie Knight, PhD

If you’ve ever watched someone pick cilantro out of a dish like it’s a tiny green landmine, you’ve seen these genetics at work. Cilantro is one of the clearest examples of genetic differences in smell perception  playing out at the dinner table. When people say “cilantro tastes like soap,” they are describing flavour , but flavour is built mostly from smell , not your taste buds. Those soap-like notes come from volatile molecules released during chewing that travel up the back of the throat...

Losing your sense of smell is disorienting in ways most people don’t expect. Food becomes bland, your sense of self shifts, and the invisible pleasures of life, fresh coffee, sun-warmed pine, your child’s hair, seem to vanish. For many, this loss comes after a viral illness like COVID-19 or the flu. And while your doctor may have told you it “should come back in a few weeks,” for some, it takes longer. Whether you’re weeks or years into this journey, let’s walk through the steps to rebuild you

We often underestimate the power of our senses, particularly our sense of smell. A groundbreaking systematic review published in Neuropsychology Review suggests that training your sense of smell, scientifically known as olfactory training, could significantly boost cognitive functions. It may even reshape brain structures. The researchers examined 18 studies. They found strong evidence that regularly exposing yourself to specific scents enhances brain performance. These improvements aren't...