t’s thought we can each detect up to a trillion scents. Before we even get to our desks, we’re unconsciously ricocheting from one to another.

Our morning beauty routine alone is packed with carefully crafted fragrances, each formulated to evoke a sense of calm, comfort and serenity.

And then we’re faced with the tempting wafts of flat whites from the local coffee shop, as we associate the scent with familiarity (and the basic need to function in the office, of course).

That said, even the smells we don’t necessarily welcome (rush hour Tube, we’re looking at you) can have a dramatic impact on us, often triggering an emotion or impacting our mood.

So, what is it that happens to us physically for scents to elicit such a strong response?