The olfactory system, or our sense of smell, is one of the five primary representational systems. In today’s world, relying primarily on smell for processing information is uncommon. However, this sense was likely much more crucial to our ancestors living in prehistoric times.

Compared to many animals, humans have a less developed sense of smell and it is less central to how we build mental maps of our environment. For example, a dog’s sense of smell is so advanced that it can create a detailed “scent map” of its surroundings — something humans cannot replicate.

The olfactory system is closely linked to the gustatory system (taste). While smell and taste operate through different sensory channels, they are tightly connected. In many models of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), these two senses are often combined as one.

Think about the feeling of disgust — it’s often triggered by an unpleasant smell or taste, whether literal or metaphorical.

Unconscious Processing of Smell

In many Western cultures, the olfactory sense tends to be less consciously developed. However, professionals such as perfumers and wine experts have finely tuned abilities to detect and describe subtle aromas.

Most of the time, we process smells without even realizing it. Our sense of smell can serve as an early warning system — detecting dangers like smoke or spoiled food. Pleasant or unpleasant scents can influence our moods without our conscious awareness. Additionally, pheromones, which are chemical signals, can affect our feelings and behavior on a powerful, often subconscious level.

Olfactory Anchors

Because smell is a very primal sense, it can create strong emotional anchors. For instance, the smell of freshly baked apple pie might instantly transport someone back to their childhood memories.

Olfactory Language

People who rely on olfactory processing tend to use words related to smell, such as:

Odor, aroma, perfume, fragrance, stink, “I smell a rat,” stench, rotten, “his idea stinks,” sniff, scent, whiff, smelly, noxious.

Behavioral Signs of Olfactory Processing

Some signs that someone might be processing information through their sense of smell include:

• Slight flaring of the nostrils or lifting the chin.
• Breathing and speech patterns that resemble those of kinesthetic processors, often slower and more deliberate.