The Nose Knows

Early this morning when I walked through my yard admiring the spring's floral offerings, the most amazing scent enveloped me. I couldn't put my finger on it. Or more accurately, I couldn't put my nose on it.

For the first time, I learned my magnolia shrub has a most penetrating aroma. I never knew. I stood there with my face buried in the branches, amazed at the rich, full scent. I've always loved the visual beauty of the magnolia blossom. Add this scent, and the plant is completely perfect.

For a couple years following a sinus surgery, I experienced a complete loss of my senses of smell and taste. It's the nose in combination with the mouth that makes the olfactory system function fully, able to detect one trillion different scents. I think those two senses are underappreciated. It's one of those things you're unaware how good you have it till it's gone.

My loss of taste affected my overall nutrition; I no longer had an interest in eating because there was no flavor and no feeling of reward. My loss of smell made me feel unsafe, worried that I wouldn't detect warning smells, like noxious fumes, smoke from fire, or spoiled food. The loss of both significantly lowered my mental positivity.