>> MARK: ISN'’T IT WEIRD THAT YOU CAN SMELL OTHER PEOPLE, BUT YOU CAN'T ALWAYS SMELL YOURSELF?

OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT WALK BY YOU AND THINK, "“WHEW, GYM CLASS,"” BUT UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN WORKING IN A BARNYARD, YOU MIGHT HAVE NO IDEA.

OVER TIME, WE GET DESENSITIZED TO OUR OWN SWEAT GLANDS.

WE ALL GO THROUGH THIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO WERE ONCE BOYS.

OUR BODIES START TO CHANGE AROUND AGE 12, WHICH IS WHY TEACHERS HAND OUT DEODORANT IN THE SIXTH GRADE.

HUMANS ARE GENERALLY PRETTY GOOD AT SMELLING STUFF.

WE CAN PICK OUT UP TO A TRILLION DIFFERENT SCENTS, AND WE CAN SMELL SOME OF THEM BETTER THAN DOGS CAN.

IT'’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE ODORS ARE SOMETIMES A CLUE TO CERTAIN DISEASES.

THEY TEACH US THIS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET IT UNTIL ONE DAY YOU SEE A PATIENT WITH THAT FRUITY, SWEET SMELL CAUSED BY DIABETES.

PARKINSON'S, LIVER PROBLEMS, KIDNEY DISEASE, THEY CAN ALL HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT SMELL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DR. HOUSE, M.D., TO FIGURE IT OUT.

DOCTORS TEST THE SENSE OF SMELL AS ONE OF THE BASIC NERVE FUNCTIONS.

IN THE HOSPITAL, WE CARRIED AROUND LITTLE JARS OF COFFEE GROUNDS TO TEST PATIENTS, AFTER WE DRANK ALL THE COFFEE.

SMELL IS ALSO IMPORTANT WHEN WE ATTRACT A MATE.

DIFFERENT AROMAS CAN TELL US WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE A COMPATIBLE GENETIC MAKEUP.

IN A SENSE, THAT MEANS PUTTING ON PERFUME OR AFTER-SHAVE BEFORE A DATE IS A TRICK WE PLAY ON POTENTIAL PARTNERS, LIKE WEARING SHOULDER PADS OR A WIG.

ALL THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE LOTS OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR SENSE OF SMELL DURING COVID.

NOT THAT PEOPLE WERE DATING IN PERSON THEN ANYWAY.

YOU CAN'’T SMELL ANYTHING OVER ZOOM.

SO EVENTUALLY WE ALL GET USED TO OUR OWN SMELL.

LUCKILY, EXPERTS SAY YOU CAN HELP RESENSITIZE IT BY SMELLING SOMEWHERE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF SWEAT GLANDS, LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND.

THAT MIGHT WORK, BUT YOU'’RE GOING TO GET SOME FUNNY LOOKS.

BETTER CARRY SOME COFFEE GROUNDS, JUST IN CASE.