The second instalment of the Guardian’s Brain Waves podcast series about the science of emotion focuses on life without a sense of smell.  The podcast takes an in-depth look at the emotional significance of the sense of smell in humans as well as its role in memory.  Alongside interviews with Prof Barry Smith of the University of London, psychologist Dr Ilona Croy and neuroscientist Prof Edvard Moser, Fifth Sense’s Duncan Boak and Tom Laughton (both of whom lost their sense of smell following trauma) meet Guardian journalist Lucy Mangan, who was born without a sense of smell, and discuss their individual perspectives on life without this sense.  Lucy also meets chef Jozef Youssef who takes her on a multi-sensory gastronomic experience.

It’s a fascinating programme that tackles the issue of anosmia in a sensitive way and we highly recommend it.  You can listen to it online here.

Emotion is key to the marketing of so many fragrances. We often hear references to lust, desire and even envy associated with marketing of fragrances. “These words are liberally sprayed around the fragrance halls of department stores. But do people really understand just how critical the sense of smell is to our emotional make up and psychological wellbeing?” asks Fifth Sense’s Duncan Boak, speaker at the IFRA UK Fragrance Forum which is being held on 16th October 2014.

The International Fragrance Association represents the fragrance industry on a global scale and promotes the safe creation, development and enjoyment of fragrance on behalf of its members.

Duncan will be drawing upon the experiences of Fifth Sense members to demonstrate just how important the sense of smell is to so many aspects of our lives, using statistics and comments from the recently published ‘Impact of Olfactory Disorders in the UK‘ research paper.

Click here to view the press release for the IFRA UK Fragrance Forum.

To find out more about IFRA in the UK, visit http://www.ifrauk.org

Fifth Sense’s Duncan Boak recently attended the Annual General Meeting of the Lambeth and Southwark branch of Mind, the mental health charity.  Duncan was there to learn about the work that Mind does in supporting people with mental health problems on a local level, and speak to those present about the work that Fifth Sense is doing on behalf of people affected by disorders of the senses of smell and taste.

Duncan was invited along by Kelly Boughtflower, Information Service Advisor at the branch, whose mum Patricia lost her sense of smell several years ago, and is now awaiting for an appointment with a specialist as a result of getting information from Fifth Sense.

Olfactory disorders can have a major impact on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of those affected by them, causing depression and feelings of isolation, something that at present isn’t widely known.  Mind exist to ensure that people don’t have to face mental illness alone, and we hope that developing links between our respective organisations can ultimately benefit people whose lives have been impacted by smell and taste disorders.

For more information visit www.lambethandsouthwarkmind.org.uk

Follow them on Twitter: @LS_Mind