The Secret of Scent
by Luca Turin · first published 2006
3mentions
1recommended by
3HN commenters
2013–2019first – last mentioned
33% recommend67% neutral
" One man's passion for perfume leads him to explore one of the most intriguing scientific mysteries: What makes one molecule smell of garlic while another smells of rose? In this witty, engrossing, and wildly original volume, author Luca Turin explores the two competing theories of smell. Is scent determined by molecular shape or molecular vibrations? Turin describes in fascinating detail the science, the evidence, and the often contentious debate--from the beginnings of organic chemistry to the present day--and pays homage to the scientists who went before. With its uniquely accessible and c
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…same bond strength, but can be completely different chemically. This is why creating artificial scents is so hit or miss. The science and discovery of all this is really fascinating, I recommend The Secret of Scent by Turin: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Scent-Adventures-Perfume-Scienc...
"The Secret of Scent" by Luca Turin [0] if I remember correctly goes into research that indicates that there may be quantum effects that explain how shape/chirality of molecules affect smell. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Scent-Adventures-Perfume-Scien...…
on “John Carmack: I’m going to work on artificial general intelligence” ↗I read Luca Turin's book, "The Secret of Scent", years ago, and it certainly seemed engaging. Reviews on Amazon seem to be mixed.
on “Using Deep Learning to Predict the Olfactory Properties of Molecules” ↗