Tags
analogy, Dr. Majid, Jahai, metaphor, scent, smell, The Economist, writing tips
Of all the human senses, I find smell the hardest to use in writing. And yet, it’s one of the most powerful, as a number of studies have shown it’s hard-wired into our brain, and a shortcut to all sorts of strong emotions. So why is it so hard to find the right word for a smell?
Turns out, I’m hardly the only one in this predicament. As a recent Economist article on scents recently explained, the human sense of smell itself is weak. Scientists suspect this is the result of an evolutionary trade-off in the primate brain in favor of visual procession power. In simple terms, we see great, but we couldn’t smell ourselves out of a perfume factory.
This is of particular interest to humans, as the relative weakness of smell compared with sight extends to language, too. Humans have no difficulty putting names to colors but are notoriously bad at putting names to odors. This may be a matter of how our brain is wired. Linguists, however, suspect it’s more likely a consequence of the tendency of languages to contain words useful to their speakers. Since smells matter little to most people, most languages have few abstract words for them.
Enter Dr. Majid And The Jahai
Recent research conducted by Dr. Majid in Malaysia seems to support this theory. Jahai, a group of hunter-gatherers who live in western Malaysia, are remarkably good at naming odors. When she asked some Jahai, and some Americans to name colors and odors they were presented with, the Americans generally agreed with one another when it came to naming colors but not when putting names to odors. When presented with cinnamon, for example, they described it variously as sweet, spicy, wine, candy, edible and potpourri. When presented with baby powder they offered vanilla, wax, baby oil, toilet paper, dentist office, hand lotion, rose and bubble gum as descriptions. Jahai answers, in contrast, were in equal agreement about both odors and colors.
This might, in part, be because the Jahai have a dozen words dedicated to describing different sorts of smells in the abstract (the equivalent of color-words such as red, blue, black and white, of which there are generally reckoned to be 11 in English). For example, the Jahai use the word “cŋεs” for stinging sorts of smells associated with petrol, smoke and various insects, and “plʔeŋ” for bloody, fishy and meaty sorts of smells. According to Dr. Majid, only “musty” is able to act in this way in English without drawing on analogy (banana-like, gooseberry-noted, and even earthy and sweet-smelling, are all analogies of some sort).
Given these findings, the scientists argue that it is the hunting-and-gathering way of life, rather than the use of a particular language, that is crucial to the use of abstract names for odors. Presumably, the business of surviving by eating what the forest has to offer requires a more discriminating use of the nostrils than is needed for farming.
What About Writing?
What does this mean for your writing? Unless your story takes place during a wine tasting, the easiest way to explain a smell to your reader in a way that triggers an emotional response is through an analogy or a metaphor.
“The tiny room stank of sweat and despair” carries more emotional punch than if you tried to describe the actual scent of sweat and immediately creates a foreboding, claustrophobic environment.
Accordingly, “She sashayed out of the sea, dripping, her chocolate skin smelling of coconut and sea salt and sunshine” readily evokes a sexy woman’s dip into the Caribbean.
So, unless you’re discussing wine, forego fancy words like “gooseberry-noted” and “sweet tanin” and grab the reader by their nose!
Gwen Plano said:
Intriguing, Nicholas. When I saw the movie, “The Scent of a Woman,” I realized how one sense (like vision) could dominate another, and also realized how limited my sense of smell is (except in the extremes). Great article.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Gwen 😀
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Pingback: The Challenge Of Describing Scents In Your Writing… | Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog
Darlene said:
Very interesting article! I too find describing scent difficult, now I know why.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
It’s good to know you’re not alone 🙂
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joylennick said:
Smells or odours are easier to recall than describe! Creosoted fences; Grandma’s musty-dusty, warm wood garden shed, ‘Evening in Paris’ perfume from Woolworth’s which Mum wore, vinegar on chips and vanilla candles.A joint of meat roasting, petrol, an orange or lemon grove….What a nose-tickling bouquet of memories!.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You have quite a way with words when it comes to smells! I’m much worse than that, I’m afraid.
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joylennick said:
Thank you Nicholas. They really are potent when I sit quietly and close my eyes.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I know. Now, to put that potency into words, therein lies the rub 😀
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joylennick said:
PS. Clean forgot to say how much I enjoyed the whole article! Excellent. Thank you. Joy
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Joy 🙂
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maliaann said:
Reblogged this on Writing for the Whole Darn Universe.
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linesoflisteningblog.wordpress.com said:
When writing about emotions, smells or sounds I find myself sitting in front of the laptop with my fingers on the keyboard and my eyes closed. My mind is searching for the correct descriptive word to explain just the right sensation.
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Jean M. Cogdell said:
Thanks for the reminder, emotion is still the best way to grab a reader, even when describing a smell.
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Katia M. Davis said:
Interesting piece that makes you think. I don’t have too many problems with smell, in fact it’s one of my favourite senses to engage when writing. I’ll often mix taste and smell as the two are so closely related; blood will have a tang of corroding copper, an old room has the fecund odour of rotting beets or mushrooms, humid air might be flat like boiled water, for example.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I love those! I think I’ll save them for future reference 😉
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Katia M. Davis said:
Go for it! 😁
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joylennick said:
You too have a way with words, Katia…”fecund odour of rotting beets or mushrooms…” Wow. “Do not show me the moon. Show me its play on the flagstones…” x
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Don Massenzio said:
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this great post from Nicholas Rossis’ blog on the challenge of describing scents in your writing.
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claire plaisted said:
Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented:
Do you need to describe scents? Give this a read 🙂
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kimwrtr said:
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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Lance Greenfield said:
Reblogged this on Write to Inspire and commented:
Here is a thought-provoking article about the struggle that writers have to describe smells. I would say that the same applies to tastes. I will certainly work harder in the future to stimulate the noses and tongues of my readers.
By the way, I have also been puzzled by the descriptions offered up by wine connoisseurs. Their language is rather pretentious and usually means nothing to me.. They should try harder too!
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rijanjks said:
Excellent post! I agree that the sense of smell is the hardest to describe in writing. This is awesome.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Jan! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend 🙂
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patriciaruthsusan said:
Thanks, Nicholas. That’s an area I’m weak in. This is a helpful post. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
The secret seems to be to use analogies instead of looking for the right word!
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patriciaruthsusan said:
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
A helpful post.
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