I'm an aromatherapist, it always fascinates me when people share what scents they find pleasing. There's a direct mind body link to scent so our sense of smell is so personal. We have nerve pathways in the upper part of our noses that directly connect to the brain, the hypothalamus where smell is registered and it's directly involved in so many different body processes. Actions happening in the endocrine, digestive or nervous systems for example. I think about how our bodies respond to the smell of food cooking, if it's good, we will feel hungry and if it's bad, maybe gone off meat, we will feel sick. It's even more interesting when you start considering the psychology behind how we react to smell, how the scent of something can take us back to past memories. I don't think it's a coincidence that many of the anti depressant essential oils are Summer flowers like rose, jasmine and geranium. They take us back to memories of summer holidays which for most of us were pleasant and relaxing. 😊

I think it’s both for example I do not like the smell of flowers except for honeysuckle and other people love the smell of all other flowers. I can’t stand the smell of cilantro or licorice yet others love it to death. So really it is a personal opinion and preference.

In my Mother's case, smell is nonexistent on account of her having lost her sense of smell due to a traumatic brain injury.

yup.

case in point - boiling corned beef and cabbage

It exists

If there's a smell there's a smell, no opinion or preference needed, it smells.

i agree

It's subjective.