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The human nose can identify many more odors than previously thought.
Scientists from Rockefeller University in New York have discovered that the human nose can detect one trillion different smells. Previously, it was thought that the nose could only differentiate about ten thousand odors, a supposition that was accepted, but never tested, dating back to the 1920’s.
The study used carefully calibrated cocktails of odor molecules for participants to smell. From those results researchers postulated that many more combinations were possible and that humans have an incredible depth of identification in their sniffers. How the process works in detail has yet to be understood, however, (Helen Briggs, “Nose Can Detect One Trillion Odours,” The BBC at BBC.com, March 20, 2014).
One of the features of the true worship of God in the Old Testament period is the use of precious ointments and incense. “ He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer ,” (Exodus 37:29, NKJV, this and following verses).
In the ancient Tabernacle and then the Temple, God instructed the Israelites to place an “altar of incense” from which the attending priests would scoop hot coals into their censers where they would burn granules of this wonderfully fragrant and specially prepared incense (Exodus 30:1-9). This was itself simply a copy of the original altar of incense that exists in the third heaven where God the Father and Jesus Christ preside over all things. The incense burned from the heavenly altar and giving its divine fragrance is specifically the “prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). Imagine that, the prayers of true believers have their own unique smell to God!
Even the aroma of the meat roasting on the altar of burnt offering appeals to God. Speaking of the offering of a lamb, killed and prepared, “… Then the priest shall bring it all and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD ,” (Leviticus 1:13).
As human beings, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we, too, share this unique sense and ability to appreciate smells.
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Keywords: nose smells odors incense
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