Bringing together fragrance creators and people born without the sense of smell and members of the Anosmie.org association around the same table: this was the challenge of Cinquième Sens. On October 3rd, therefore, about twenty people engaged in a dialogue without pretense, confronting their views and opening up avenues for connecting two seemingly parallel worlds.
Putting yourself in the shoes of an anosmic person
Emmanuelle and Pierre-Emmanuel, People with congenital anosmia, as well as Anouche, who developed partial but dysfunctional sense of smell at the age of 20, testify. To the first question posed by Grégoire Balleydier, perfumer-creator at dsm-Firmenich « How to conceive the smells that we don’t smell? », The answers differ. Pierre-Emmanuel explains that they appear to him as emotions that float and who provide information in advance to those who can detect them. For Emmanuelle, The awareness of anosmia was late, At 19 years old. This is the book by Patrick Süskind «The perfume» who introduced her to this universe, and especially to the fact that everyone has their own body odor. This is a rather frustrating observation. Anouche perceives certain odors, but with different intensities depending on the person. distortions compared to someone who possesses the integrity of this sense. Most people find him aggressive.
The three participants testify to their Report on food. Most often, anosmic people show no interest in food because taste is 80% influenced by smell and retro-olfaction does not work. Anouche notes that for her, certain flavors that are seemingly quite neutral explode violently in the mouth and are perceived as unpleasant. Compensation mechanisms may appear A strong attraction for organoleptic qualities such as fat, or even an addiction to sugar. Everyone implements their own strategies for cooking: measuring out the salt or spices, avoiding burning the prepared foods: risks that are not to be taken lightly, as anosmia of course has a daily impact.
Solutions to be invented
The perfumers also take the floor: Jean-Michel Duriez (JMD Workshop) explains that the’partial anosmia Compared to some molecules used in perfumery, this is not uncommon. Céline Perdriel (Cosmo Fragrances) talks about a hyperosmia rather destabilizing that she developed during the period of her pregnancy. Isabelle Larignon (Isabelle Larignon) defines itself as hypersensitive to the smells and describes the olfactory silence she felt when she was affected by the Covid virus, rather relaxing. Recalling these moments allows us to approach the perception induced by anosmia and olfactory disorders, a subject to which perfume creators are very receptive.
Since Proust, the neuroscientist par excellence, it is known that smells are intimately linked to memory. Without this encoding, anosmic individuals describe the conscious anchoring systems they use during the moments they wish to remember (photographs, words, neuro-linguistic programming gestures…).
Research is advancing and initiatives are developing. Emmanuelle mentions the European project Rose, who works at the placement of olfactory implants in order to restore the sense of smell to those who have lost it. In the short term, the publication of a cookbook Dedicated to anosmic people, it is currently being drafted.
When several perfumers testify that they have the ability to imagine a scent in an abstract way, the question of inventing a code arises. Isabelle Ferrand concludes with this idea: « Why not imagine a Braille system for anosmic people, to help them feel the smells like a perfumer?». This system would allow the transmission of smells and give everyone access to an olfactory library...
Creating a perfume for an anosmic person
Ugo Charron, perfumer-creator at Mane, took on this challenge by creating a perfume for Emmanuelle that was completely anosmic. He explains that he organized workshops to better understand her tastes, using the help of Pseudo-synesthesia It corresponds to colors, materials, visuals and music. He chose to interpret a rather enigmatic flavor for Western palates: the’umami (or glutamate), which has a perception that is both salty, smoky, oily and velvety.
His approach has been to work on one fragrance of the skin, To fill a gap felt by Emmanuelle. Her fragrance, which he describes as lactonic, was created using bergamot and iris on a base of musk, infused with evocative notes: rose, cassis and leather.
This new fragrance (which was able to be discovered and smelled during the evening event) is not too strong, allowing a person with impaired sense of smell to apply too much. Jean-Michel Duriez even praised this The form is technically thought out so as not to disturb the entourage in case of excess. Baptisé Umema, This perfume received very positive reviews during its presentation at the WPC exhibition in Miami in 2022. A real step forward.
The commitment of the association Anosmie.org
According to pre-Covid statistics, 5% of the population would be anosmic ; But it is not possible to estimate the number of birth defects (1/10000 for the main syndrome). The consequences of this invisible disability are numerous: absence of detection Certain dangers (damaged food, gas leak…), social isolation in certain situations, impact on memory. Alarming statistic: 60% of anosmic people would be depressed.
The association works at different levels: for one Early detection in children, by requesting the addition of an specific page Regarding the sense of smell in the health record, by creating a Directory health professionals trained in this sensory disability, through’organization from support groups, by sharing experiences also open to close relatives, as well as through awareness-raising actions in perfume schools.
Anosmie.org intervenes within the GDRO3 group and Engages in research by relaying calls for volunteers for clinical studies. Hirac Gurden, research director in neurosciences at the CNRS (olfaction and smell), is a member of the association’s board of directors, as well as the scientific reference for the olfactory rehabilitation protocol.
The book «Being a nose without smell, Recently published by Anosmie.org and whose profits are donated to it, this work attempts to answer these questions: How can one build a life without smell in a world filled with smells? How does congenital anosmia impact the relationship with oneself and others? How can parents support their children? What treatments or surgeries?
Throughout the pages, he provides numerous testimonies.
There is still a long way to go, even though, since the Covid epidemics, the general public has become more aware of anosmia. This evening between Born without a nose and with noses It has demonstrated that this cause is now attracting the interest of perfume creators, with the desire to meet again and to go further together!
Cinquième Sens and Anosmie.org would like to thank all the people present at this event and in particular the perfumers Grégoire Balleydier (dsm-Firmenich), Sarah Burri (Cinquième Sens), Pierre Boersch (Cosmo Fragrances), Ugo Charron (Mane), Antoine Coelho (Drymer), Alice Dattée (Cinquième Sens), Serge de Olivieira (Robertet), Jean-Michel Duriez (Atelier JMD), Isabelle Larignon (Isabelle Larignon), Meabh Mc Curtin (IFF), Céline Perdriel (Cosmo Fragrances) and Coralie Spicher (dsm-Firmenich).
On your calendars: In partnership with Emanezsens, a subsidiary of the Cinquième Sens group, Anosmie.org will host an Open Doors day for all anosmic children and adolescents accompanied by their parents who would like to discuss congenital anosmia. A first date has been announced: the Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Link to: https://www.emanezsens.com/
