Paranormal Smells

Many haunting cases involve witnesses smelling unlikely or unusual smells with no obvious source. The range is wide, from the odour of flowers and perfumes to foul or putrid smells. Though often part of a wider set of ‘symptoms’ of a haunting, unexplained smells on their own are sometimes interpreted as indicating a 'ghostly presence’.

Smell is a notoriously difficult sense to measure. Indeed, there is still a strong controversy about what how it works! Some scientists maintain that it is the shape of molecules that allow them to connect to particular sensors in the nose and so stimulate a nerve. Others, a growing minority, say it is to do with the quantum state of the molecule being sensed.

As with other senses, odour perception varies between individuals. This can lead to disagreement between people on the identity or even the presence of a particular smell. Despite an image of being poorly developed in humans, our sense of smell is surprisingly sensitive. However, just as we stop hearing a constant background noise, persistent smells stop being noticeable after long exposure. As with the other senses, actual smell perception happens in the brain, not the nose, so misperception is possible.

Full Article:  http://www.assap.ac.uk/newsite/articles/Paranormal%20smells.html