What if your skin could smell?

This is not a metaphor—it is established science. Our understanding of smell changed fundamentally when Linda Buck and Richard Axel identified the odorant receptor gene family, a discovery that earned them the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and transformed modern olfactory neuroscience. Building upon this foundation, Prof. Dr. Dr. Hanns Hatt (1947–2026) expanded the field by demonstrating that odorant receptors are not confined to the nose. His research revealed that smell-related receptors are also present in other human tissues, including skin cells. In one landmark study, the sandalwood-like fragrance molecule Sandalore activated the odorant receptor OR2AT4 in human keratinocytes and was associated with cellular processes involved in experimental wound-healing models. These findings do not suggest that the skin "smells" in the same way as the nose. Rather, they reveal something even more remarkable: odorant receptors are part of a broader system of chemical sensing that allows the body to respond to molecular signals in multiple ways. For AMATRIUS, this research reshapes the meaning of fragrance. Scent is not simply something we perceive through the nose; it is part of a deeper biological dialogue between the body, the environment, and the atmosphere we inhabit. Inspired by the pioneering work of Prof. Dr. Dr. Hanns Hatt, we continue to explore fragrance not only as an aesthetic experience but also as a profound connection between science, perception, and human wellbeing. Which aspect of this research surprised you the most?