Spirits don't smell. Why do spirits listen and not smell?

For me this is very interesting topic, because it is associated with both language and perfumes. Although the Russian language is not my direct specialty (I am not a philologist, but a linguist), I love it very much and really want to tell about my point of view on “listening to aromas”.

I will assume that the use of the word "listen" in relation to fragrances is normal, and is not a mistake, since we have enough data over historical extent to conclude that our "case" has existed for a long time in language and is widely used.

Therefore, we cannot deny it or attribute it to the illiteracy of certain individuals, to the cunning inventions of marketers and to the vulgar sublimity of powdered girls from perfume shops.

A couple of examples:

“It seemed to him that he even now heard this smell. And he remembered how, the day before her death, she took his strong white hand with her bony, blackening hand, looked into his eyes and said: “Do not judge me, Mitya, if I am not did, "and tears came out of the eyes faded from suffering," - Leo Tolstoy "Resurrection"

What nonsense! This is me bathing in resin extract, - answered Bodrostina, and, bringing her hand closer to his face, she added: - Smell, isn't it? - No, I can smell new boards, they are being planed somewhere.

Leskov "On Knives"

Then I heard (wow!) a bad smell,

Like a rotten egg has been broken

Or the quarantine guard smoked a sulfuric brazier

Pushkin (poem 1832)

Well, it goes without saying that all of us perfume lovers have heard this expression a hundred million times in life. In general, the language of perfume maniacs is full of sound associations and metaphors.

Our aromas are decomposed into notes, they sound, they are too loud or too quiet. No one is surprised by the descriptions of fragrances, such as: “At first, tuberose was the soloist, jasmine echoed it, and then amber, patchouli entered, and on this note everything suddenly ended.” How much more musical? Is it true?

And then there are such phrases as "a cacophony of aromas." We immediately understand what is meant - this is not just a mixture of smells, it is a mixture of aromas that are not friendly with each other, do not combine, irritate, like empty strumming on a musical instrument.

And in all this I see very interesting point. I believe that languages ​​are complex dynamic systems because they have the hallmarks of complex dynamic systems: multiple diverse agents and interrelationships. Consequently, not a single phenomenon, even the most insane at first glance, happens by chance, just like that. And “listening” about fragrances is not an accidental mistake or a short-lived fashion.

I'll try to explain now how I see it.

We have senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste and balance. We receive the bulk of information through vision, followed by hearing, touch, smell and taste (to a lesser extent), well, balance is generally similar to Pluto in solar system- almost lost, not quite even a planet. And these feelings of ours and their role in obtaining information have a strong influence on the formation of language.

See how much different words we have connected with vision: to see, to look, to look, to contemplate, and so on. And how mobile these words are, how easily they form derivatives with new meanings: to discern, to peep, to glimpse, to revise, and so on.

The same goes for hearing, albeit to a slightly lesser extent: listen, eavesdrop, and so on.

The most depleted of epithets among us, of course, is the sense of balance, which can only be lost and gained. And even verbs relating only to this feeling we do not seem to have.

Since the receipt of information is associated with the process of collecting and processing (roughly speaking), the words associated with feelings are displayed in pairs. Best things go with the most active ways receiving information "look-see", "listen-hear".

And then the difficulties begin. Sense of touch. The word "touch" can mean both to touch and to feel touched. This is a couple in itself, without distinctions according to the principle of "receiving-feeling". But here we have other tools: “touch-feel”, “touch-feel” and others like them in various combinations.

Smell. Smell. Just like “touch”, “smell” can mean both the process of drawing in air, and the process of sensing the aroma, so to speak, the processing of the received data.

And look how clumsy, clumsy these words are, how narrow their range of application is, no scale, no range! You can not "smell" or "smell". We hardly ever use them colloquial speech. They are largely protocol.

There is a word "sniff", but it does not have a pair, although it accurately and definitely refers to an action aimed at obtaining information. There are auxiliary tools - to feel, feel and hear (and where to hear, there to listen). Here a tricky question may arise: why is the word "hear" applied to the organs of smell, but not to the organs of touch? Because we hear at a distance and the aromas are able to feel at a distance. But to touch - no.

I want to give an example:

He smelled the scent of his home

He heard the scent of his home

He smelled the scent of his home

I don’t know about you, for me personally, the first option says that “he” was already inside his home, smelling the aroma

The second option tells me that he is somewhere near the house, but not inside, maybe on the way

And the third option tells me that his house smells bad. Or that "he" is a dog.

And in general, the derivatives of the word “sniff” often sound ironic - all these sniff out, sniff out ... And the sniffing process itself refers to the physical drawing in of air. That is why cocaine is sniffed, not inhaled. Sniff - inhale through the nostrils.

But the sense of taste does not have such luxury. Borrowed from the German word "try" and words-auxiliary tools taken from the sense of touch - that's all. Even the related word "eat" has a different meaning.

Note that the basic senses do not need these tools. We don't feel the paintings in the museum and we don't feel the music in MP3 format.

Thus, when there are not enough own, relatives visual means, they are borrowed from neighboring spheres. At the same time, borrowings fit well into the environment and ideally display all the necessary nuances.

And one more thing related to aromas. As we know, the word "aroma" has several meanings. There is aroma - a synonym for smell, and there is aroma - a synonym for perfume. We cannot smell the smell, we feel or feel the smell (or listen to ha-ha-ha), because this is a property, not an object. We can sniff its source. And the aroma, which is a bottle of perfume, we can easily smell. And here confusion often arises when a person, roughly speaking, holds a blotter in his hands and “smells” its aroma. Although he can only smell the blotter itself, he can inhale the aroma. Or listen, which implies the active involvement of attention and mental work in the process itself. He can feel and feel the aroma - these words are also appropriate, but they do not appeal to attention, while, choosing perfumes, we carefully listen to their shades, and not just feel it randomly, as we can feel, for example, cold going out to the balcony.

Well, why am I here, sobbsno spread the thought along the tree. Convenience. In addition to poetry, in addition to the associative connection of aromas and music, in addition to the lack of native flexible tools, the sense of smell has a banal convenience:

Hear the aroma! What do you hear?

I hear cherry and gladiolus

Smell the aroma! What do you feel/smell/feel?

Here you still have to choose the words, and the language, every language, strives for simplicity and brevity. By the way, I, for example, would not be very pleased with the question of what I feel from an outsider, even if we are talking about fragrances. It sounds too personal. But this is my personal opinion.

Objectively, such a question can be perceived in two ways. Or sound too literary-sublime for a regular store. Although, I find fault, this is also possible. But this is not the only way.

Well, and the last. IN last days I heard several times that we can't listen with our nose because there are no hearing receptors there. By the way, I didn’t hear it, but I saw it several times, because I read it with my eyes on the screen :)

But we can listen to the voice of the heart or its call, our eyes can speak, and not only eyes, but also postures, and appearance, behavior. Although they have nothing to say: there are no speech organs. And people vote with their feet and all that... Feelings are allowed to "walk" back and forth, to spread from one sphere to another. Why? Because the world for us is a source of information, feelings, emotions and thoughts. He speaks to us, and we hear and analyze him. And formalities, in the form of the presence of receptors, often recede into the background, giving way to linguistic metaphors and colors. Of course, if we are talking not about the text of the medical examination.

I am glad that we always have a choice. We can smell, listen, smell. And no one forces us to use those words that we do not like. And it's great! And, most importantly, I wish you all endless perfume joys and great scope for smell!

The first rule of the buyer of any perfume shop: never sniff perfume from a bottle or atomizer. If you were given a sampler, apply a drop of fragrant water on your wrist or on paper strip. Wait a couple of minutes for the alcohols to dissipate. At the third or fifth minute, you can already feel the first notes of the fragrance. In an hour it will open in full force, in three or four hours you will be able to feel its last line.

As a probe, you can use a handkerchief. Smear some perfume on it and put it in your pocket. Walk like this for a couple of days to see if the smell causes rejection or allergies. Please note that the perception of odors is affected by the characteristics of your skin, your age and health, weather, mood and many other factors. Buy perfume only when you are sure that it is your scent.

Where to apply perfume?

For the ears
on the ankles
on the bend of the elbow
to the groin area
in the center of the chest
on the back of the knee

It is advisable to apply perfume to those places where it is felt. Do not use other scented products such as strongly scented shower gels, scented soaps, and oils before using perfume. Neglecting this advice, you will mix several and get a completely unexpected combination.

Masters Tips:
Changing perfumes during the day (for example, light daytime scents for classic evening scents) helps to improve well-being and mood. The effect of changing aromas is comparable in strength to an hour of meditation or a visit to the gym. It does not burn extra calories, but it will charge you with vivacity and give you an increased tone.
The smell applied to clean, freshly washed and dried hair is perfectly absorbed and lasts all day. However, this method is not recommended for owners of dry hair, because alcohol leads to even more dehydration of the hairline. For oily hair, this method of applying perfume is ideal, especially since oily skin retains fragrance longer.
Skin with enlarged pores does not react well to alcohol, so do not use perfume immediately after a shower, wait until the skin dries.
Synthetic clothing does not absorb odors well, while cotton, wool, fur, and leather do the opposite. Be careful not to drip perfume on soiled clothes so as not to leave unnecessary stains.

Why do some perfumes seem unstable?

The fragrance that suits you perfectly disappears after an hour. At the same time, its train unobtrusively envelops other people around you. The smell that you feel all the time throughout the day is definitely not yours, try to get rid of it as quickly as possible and replace it with something new. When choosing perfumes, be guided by your feelings and the current situation. Don't forget to follow our advice and be charming.

The Russian language has more than thousand years of history. Some expressions that we use without hesitation in Everyday life, at first glance, may seem illogical or even strange. It is difficult for a foreigner studying Russian to explain why a fly sits on the wall and a vase is on the table. It is also not easy to remember, to say: to put on a coat or put on, to smell or feel. Well, the phrase “no, it’s wrong” has become a classic example of Russian logic. This article is about how to say correctly: "the smell is heard or felt."

Not only the East, but also the language is a delicate matter

The task is quite difficult. Not every linguist will be able to clearly explain how to say correctly: “they hear or feel the smell”. Often, in order to interpret the difficulties of Russian, it is necessary to turn to dictionaries, reference books, and even material from other languages. In particular, many are wondering how, according to the rules of the Russian - "they hear or feel smells"?

Every nation has certain picture world, which in one way or another is reflected in the system of symbols. But the system itself has internal laws and its own logic. Not only do we make the language, but it also makes us.

To understand the difference between the expressions "to smell or feel", it is not necessary to immediately turn to dictionaries. It is easy to see that the verb "hear" refers more to the physical ability to perceive sounds, and the verb "feel" reflects the state of mind.

We perceive external world complex, because our senses interact with each other. So, in painting there are cold and warm shades, in music - heavy melodies, etc. Therefore, sometimes we figuratively say that we hear a smell, understanding by this the process of perceiving a particular aroma.

Words, like people, may not fit together.

The term "valence" is familiar to many from the school bench. So in chemistry they call the ability of a molecule to bind to another molecule. But the language, despite the abundance of phrases and words that seem to have no logic, is actually a wisely organized system of signs.

In linguistics, valency is the ability of one lexeme to be combined with other words. For example, we say "thin road", "thin path", but "thin person". Semantically, the word "thin" fits better with inanimate objects or body parts, but people in general are not spoken of in this way. In the famous story of A. Chekhov, one of the friends is named precisely thin, and not thin, because this character, unlike his “fat” friend, has lost his individuality and honor, turned into a servile flatterer.

Chekhov used the epithet "thin" on purpose, to make the narrative more emotional. But sometimes we make random mistakes, because apart from the norms literary language there is also colloquial speech, which often goes beyond the norm. Therefore, in order to understand how to correctly say, “I hear a smell or feel,” you need to turn to explanatory dictionary and a dictionary of the compatibility of words of the Russian language. Well, the logic of constructing these phrases was mentioned above.

What do dictionaries say

In the first half of the twentieth century. both forms were absolutely equal - "hear the smell" and "feel the smell". This can be checked in the dictionary of D.S. Ushakov.

However, since the middle of the twentieth century the language system has changed somewhat and now the only correct general literary norm is the combination “smell”. It is in this form that this expression is presented in the dictionary of word compatibility, published in 1983 by the Institute of the Russian Language. A.S. Pushkin. On this moment it is one of the most authoritative publications of its kind.

Meanwhile, in a "live" speech ...

Linguists are engaged in fixing, describing and substantiating the literary norm. However, almost 30 years have passed since 1983, and the language has changed somewhat, because it is constantly and relentlessly developing. As people's living standards improve, the perfume industry improves, new types of perfumes appear, specialty stores open, etc.

As a result, now we see that the expression “to smell” has not completely fallen out of use, but has migrated to the field. Perfumers do not think about whether you need to smell or feel. After all, for them, spirits are a kind of music of the body, special language moods and desires.

Thus, if you do not know whether they hear or smell perfume, then you can safely use both of these phrases in colloquial speech. In everyday communication, this will not be a mistake. True, in official documents, if they have to be drawn up, a normalized combination should still be used. If we are talking about an unpleasant smell, then in any case, you need to use the verb "feel".

What other verbs are combined with the word "smell"

In addition to the word “feel”, the following verbs are combined with the lexemes “aroma”, “smell”:

• absorb;
• be in love;
• have;
• publish;
• not tolerate;
• do not endure.

The smell itself can be heard or penetrated somewhere / from somewhere, as well as remind you of something, like it or not like it.

How to translate the expression "smell" into other languages

Interestingly, in European languages with the word "smell" the verb "feel" is also most often used: fr. sentir, engl. "feel". True, it should be noted here that if the English do not think about whether to smell or feel, there are other subtleties in their language. Remember at least famous song Nirvana "Smells like teen spirit". After all, "smell" literally means "to smell", to perceive by smell. How would you translate the title? impossible, isn't it?

In Ukrainian there are the same variants of combinations as in Russian. Against the background of the normalized expression “smell the smell” in colloquial speech and journalism, you can find the phrase “slightly smell” (literally “hear the smell”).

Perhaps the tendency to perceive perfume aromas as music is characteristic of many Slavic peoples.

Thus, there is no unequivocal answer to the question of how it is right: the smell is heard or felt, does not exist. The second option is the official norm, but the first is also acceptable in colloquial and professional speech.

In the event that you happened to get into a perfume shop, while pursuing the idea of ​​​​buying yourself a new original fragrance, you always need to follow a few unspoken rules for choosing it, which give you a chance not to get into trouble and become the owner of a truly exclusive purchase.

When and how to choose perfume?

So, it is better to go for spirits in the morning, literally immediately after waking up. This even has a scientific justification: it is in the morning that a person’s nose best recognizes smells and aromas. It is even better if you go to a salon or a store without the remnants of yesterday's perfume on your clothes or skin and without wearing your favorite scent.

In almost all perfume shops, you will initially be offered to “taste” the smell of perfume preserved on blotters. This is the name of special thick paper strips, pre-scented with all brands of toilet waters and colognes available in the range. True connoisseurs of perfume are sure that this way of buying perfume can only be compared with the purchase of a car or coffee maker that has not been personally tested. And if this situation can somehow be corrected, then the wrong fragrance will definitely gather dust on the dressing table, reminding you of an unsuccessful purchase.

The only way to test the perfect sound of a scent is by applying it to the skin. In stores, special test bottles are stocked for this. But the heat in the room, numerous buyers with the same intention to find "their" fragrance and even your mood can become an obstacle. Also, probes of different eau de toilette do not need to be applied to the same place, which can easily be classified as perfume suicide.

You have probably noticed that in perfumery stores, consultants usually offer customers not to smell, but to listen to one or another aroma. “Strange,” you thought. “Everyone knows that we catch smells with the nose, not with the ears. Then why do they say that fragrances are listened to and not smelled? Where did this strange terminology come from? Well, let's figure it out.

Why they say "listen" to the scent, not "smell"

Of course, “listening to the aroma” is a figurative expression. You don't have to hold a bottle of perfume to your ear to hear something there. And yet, where did it come from?
It's all about the associativity of our thinking.

For example, we often draw parallels between smell and taste. Describing the taste of vintage wine, we are most likely to talk about its amazing bouquet.

And many aromatic plants are associated with a certain taste, as we often use them as seasonings.

Some scientists have also tried to draw an analogy between color and smell.

They assumed that the seven primary colors of the spectrum could correspond to seven musical notes.

Scientists have managed to draw semantic parallels between smell and sound. A great contribution to this area was made by the English perfumer Piess, who was the first to introduce the concept of a harmonious and disharmonious combination of smells and arrange the main aromatic extracts into sound series.

Since then, in the perfume business, the question of listening to smells or smelling them has disappeared by itself. And the perfumers themselves began to create their aromatic masterpieces according to the principle piece of music: from notes and chords.

Basically there are 3 chords:

Upper chord or upper notes
middle chord or heart notes
and bottom chord or base notes

Together they form a fragrance that, like musical symphony, is not a static (frozen) sound, but plays, develops in time.

Now you understand why they say that the fragrance should be listened to? Agree, in this context, the word "sniff" already sounds somehow strange 🙂

However, there is one small but.

Aromas listen, but perfumes still sniff

Some consultants in stores are so addicted that they offer customers to listen to perfume instead of aroma. Which, strictly speaking, is wrong.

Since the source of the smell (in this case, an aromatic liquid, a bottle of perfume or a scented blotter) we still sniff.
And now we are already listening to the aroma.

This linguistic subtlety is best displayed by the phrase “smell<духи>can you hear how it smells<какой аромат>". Do you catch the difference?

In general, of course, no matter how you say it - smell perfume or listen to them - people will understand your informational message. But something tells us that speaking correctly is important first of all for you. And now you know how to do it right 🙂