--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smell is the only faculty that accesses…" description: "\"“Smell is the only faculty that accesses the limbic instantly. All other stimuli take longer to register, hence, the importance of odors.”\" — P.M.H. At..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/p-m-h-atwater-48614_smell_smell-is-the-only-faculty-that-accesses_2018790.png" --- # Smell is the only faculty that accesses the limbic… ![“Smell is the only faculty that accesses the limbic instantly. All other stimuli take longer to register, hence, the importance of odors.” quote by P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/p-m-h-atwater-48614_smell_smell-is-the-only-faculty-that-accesses_2018790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/p-m-h-atwater-48614_smell_smell-is-the-only-faculty-that-accesses_2018790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/p-m-h-atwater-48614_smell_smell-is-the-only-faculty-that-accesses_2018790.png) > ““Smell is the only faculty that accesses the limbic instantly. All other stimuli take longer to register, hence, the importance of odors.”” [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Odors directly trigger emotional brain centers, unlike other senses which need more processing time. **In simple terms:** Smell instantly reaches emotions. Key Takeaway Use scent to influence mood quickly. Themes sensory perception emotion biology psychology Mood engaging thoughtful Type informative analytical When to use this quote - marketing - therapy - interior design - memory recall - food industry Key Concepts limbic system olfactory pathway neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - How can scent be used ethically in public spaces? - What are the risks of over‑reliance on smell? A Different Perspective Other senses also affect emotions, though less directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accesses Limbic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accesses-limbic-3645170/) [Importance Odors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-odors-3645171/) [Limbic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbic-284096/) [Limbic Instantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbic-instantly-3645169/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Smell Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell-faculty-3645168/) ## Related quotes > [Our limbic system sets the mind's emotional tone and stores our highly charged emotional memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tian-dayton/our-limbic-system-sets-the-mind-s-emotional-tone-and-stores-our/) [Tian Dayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tian-dayton/) > [“It is interesting to note that although our limbic system functions throughout our lifetime, it does not mature. As a result, when our emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bolte-taylor/it-is-interesting-to-note-that-although-our-limbic-system-functions/) [Jill Bolte Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bolte-taylor/) > [ “p 16 ...although our limbic system \[eg. attention, fear, rage…\] functions throughout our lifetime, it does not mature. 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Ornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-ornstein/) > [“I function as an asterisk in the limbic system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/i-function-as-an-asterisk-in-the-limbic-system/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [Here's the truth: People, even regular people, are never just any one person with one set of attributes. It's not that simple. We're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/here-s-the-truth-people-even-regular-people-are-never-just-any-one/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [“When we are in the grip of craving or fury, head-over-heals in love our recoiling in dread, it is the limbic system that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/when-we-are-in-the-grip-of-craving-or-fury-head-over-heals-in-love/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [The limbic system explodes during puberty, but the prefrontal cortex keeps maturing for another 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/the-limbic-system-explodes-during-puberty-but-the-prefrontal-cortex/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [“What they find is that there are anomalies in the way these individuals process material that has emotional implications. That there’s this dissociation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/what-they-find-is-that-there-are-anomalies-in-the-way-these/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [“THE AMYGDALAfn8 IS the archetypal limbic structure, sitting under the cortex in the temporal lobe. It is central to mediating aggression, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-amygdalafn8-is-the-archetypal-limbic-structure-sitting-under-the/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Limbic consonance is the little-known process through which the mood of a room changes when a happy or nervous person walks in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/limbic-consonance-is-the-little-known-process-through-which-the-mood/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [“My limbic system has grown accustomed to a certain (very low) level of human (female) contact. With her standing right next to me, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/my-limbic-system-has-grown-accustomed-to-a-certain-very-low-level-of/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [I have sympathy for any human being that's driven by their limbic part of their brain. We all know that exists in a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-have-sympathy-for-any-human-being-that-s-driven-by-their-limbic/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) ## More by P.M.H. Atwater > [“Did you realize that 90 to 99 percent of what goes on in the universe is either infra (below) or ultra (beyond) our faculties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/did-you-realize-that-90-to-99-percent-of-what-goes-on-in-the-universe/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“Thoughts are just as real as words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/thoughts-are-just-as-real-as-words/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“No matter how wonderful "The Other Side" seems, you cannot stay if it is not your time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/no-matter-how-wonderful-the-other-side-seems-you-cannot-stay-if-it-is/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“The only real death that ever occurs is when a dream we cherish dies”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/the-only-real-death-that-ever-occurs-is-when-a-dream-we-cherish-dies/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“Consciousness has quantum field properties. Because of that, at the most primal level, we are all connected. We are part of, live in, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/consciousness-has-quantum-field-properties-because-of-that-at-the/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“Achieving success, status, and wealth is not a measure of life. Nor is becoming a religious or spiritual paragon of things holy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/achieving-success-status-and-wealth-is-not-a-measure-of-life-nor-is/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) > [“Life is consciousness expressing itself in form. All is alive. All is intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-h-atwater/life-is-consciousness-expressing-itself-in-form-all-is-alive-all-is/) [P.M.H. Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) [Explore all 8 P.M.H. Atwater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-h-atwater/) ## More Smell quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-as-soon-as-she-came-in-she/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Spirits carry an ozone scent, and demons smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. A person might not even consciously register the smell, but they’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-horn/spirits-carry-an-ozone-scent-and-demons-smell-like-sulfur-or-rotten/) [J.D. Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-horn/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I always gravitate to perfume with rose. My mom's maiden name is Rose, and the scent of my childhood was always rose. Le Sirenuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alana-haim/i-always-gravitate-to-perfume-with-rose-my-mom-s-maiden-name-is-rose/) [Alana Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alana-haim/) > [Do I Stank or was it already Stanky in Here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/do-i-stank-or-was-it-already-stanky-in-here/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [Scents as well as clothes and hairstyles can go a long way in revealing a part of yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/scents-as-well-as-clothes-and-hairstyles-can-go-a-long-way-in/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Wild honey smells of freedom The dust - of sunlight The mouth of a young girl, like a violet But gold - smells of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/wild-honey-smells-of-freedom-the-dust-of-sunlight-the-mouth-of-a/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [“My mom is having a Scentsy party tomorrow," he said. "The scented-wax thingies? Random. But go on." He laced his fingers together on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-gibsen/my-mom-is-having-a-scentsy-party-tomorrow-he-said-the-scented-wax/) [Cole Gibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-gibsen/) > [“There was a strange exciting smell in the air - the smell of wine, cigar smoke, and perfume, mingled with the scent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-was-a-strange-exciting-smell-in-the-air-the-smell-of-wine-cigar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you chopped logs with the ax and they split open they smelled beautiful, like Christmas. But when you split someone's head open it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/when-you-chopped-logs-with-the-ax-and-they-split-open-they-smelled/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) [Browse all 3,930 Smell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Smell is the only faculty that accesses the limbic instantly. All other stimuli take longer to register, hence, the importance of odors.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P.M.H. 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