Our Subtle Flair: When the Sense of Smell Perceives the Invisible Presence of Death

The silent language of our senses

Without our knowledge, our body may be able to perceive the beginnings of the great passage. Not in an agonizing way, but as a subtle perception that our senses register even before our consciousness conceptualizes it. A slight alteration in the ambient air, an unusual skin sensation, an indefinable odor… and our psyche gently shifts into a state of contemplation, serenity, sometimes even inner peace.

Our nose is a much more eloquent messenger than we imagine. It captures metamorphoses, awakens buried memories… and perhaps also accompanies the final transitions.