Introduction: Deeper Breath: An Outline of the Topic

In the introduction, the most important terms are explained encyclopedically, serving as a basis for understanding the subject. Clear terminology aids comprehension of the various sociocultural aspects of smell discussed in the remainder of the book. General definitions are useful as a starting point for the topic because they explain to the reader in a simple and clear way the meaning of concepts related to smell. This helps to understand the topic and prevents it from getting lost in explanations and examples later on. Therefore, topics such as anthropology of the senses, anthropology of smell, and olfactory heritage are defined first. Then, the history of olfactory research in the humanities and its methodological features are discussed.