OFF TANGENT

Our mysterious sense of smell and how AI can sniff out its secrets

It’s right under our noses, but olfaction may be the most underrated of our senses

Sharanya Pillai
Published Fri, Sep 29, 2023 · 10:00 AM
    • Joyce Lian, founder of fragrance maker Scent Journer, sees her craft as a blend of art and science.
    • Joyce Lian, founder of fragrance maker Scent Journer, sees her craft as a blend of art and science. PHOTO: SCENT JOURNER

    IMAGINE the mild scent of pandan leaves and light notes of jasmine. What comes to mind?

    A whiff of this instantly reminds me of Bangkok. To many others, it smells like a holiday in Bali, says Joyce Lian, who created a perfume with this fragrance.

    Yet Lian herself – who frequents cafes for scent inspirations – was thinking of dessert when concocting the fragrance.