Smell, the sense of intimacy: When our nose sends us back to our own history

fragrances

The sense of smell, often considered a secondary sense, is in fact our most direct access to subjectivity.

In this talk, Sarah Bouasse will explain the fascinating basics of olfactory functioning, and why we all have a unique perception of odors.

On the program:

The secret of non-universal smells.

The powerful, invisible links between olfaction, memory and emotions

A dive into your own perception of the world.

Sarah Bouasse is a French journalist, author and translator recognized as a specialist in scents and perfume.

A key figure in the olfactory cultural movement, she has been deputy editor-in-chief of Nez, the olfactory magazine, since its inception. Through her writing, she helps to democratize the complex and fascinating world of olfaction, making it accessible to the general public.

Her expertise is not limited to fragrance: she explores the impact of smell on all aspects of our lives - from memory and emotions to identity.

In 2024, Sarah Bouasse published her first book, "Par le bout du nez: une histoire intime des odeurs" (ed. Calmann-Lévy), an acclaimed work that blends her personal experience with her journalistic work with scientists and perfumers to shed light on the unsuspected richness of this sense.

Through her work, Sarah Bouasse invites us to rediscover the sense of smell as an essential part of our subjectivity and personal construction.