Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World's Smells

In Nose Dive, Harold McGee explores the world of smell, from the sulfurous early Earth to the keyboard of a laptop. He introduces the molecules that trigger perceptions of scent, tracing their origins in interstellar space and moving through air, oceans, forests, meadows and cities to incense, perfume, wine and food. Along the way he examines the ordinary and the extraordinary, from wet pavement and cut grass to ambergris, truffles, roses and durians, combining biology and chemistry with personal observation.

Recommended by 1 person

Seth Godin: “Yeah, Harold McGee has done that beautifully.”