Scents have the power to transform atmospheres, modulate behaviors, and can seduce, comfort, or heal. The sense of smell is the mirror of a society and also a historical portrait. This is stated by Dr. in neurosciences and research professor at CSIC, Laura López-Mascaraque, in her book El fascinante universo del olfato, published by geoPlaneta. A volume that aims to highlight the sense of smell, probably the greatly forgotten one, as priority has always been given to what we see and hear, when, in reality, smell is the gateway to memory and emotions and a way to explore the world.

Nestled in the shelter of the Albera massif, a gently rolling area at the foot of the Mediterranean Pyrenees, lies the 8.5-hectare Mas Flaquer de Cantallops estate, dating back to the 18th century. Before the walls were erected, the century-old plane tree that shades actor and perfumer Ernesto Collado (Barcelona, ​​1974) and me as we chatted already stood by the Torrelles stream. It's listed as one of the four oldest in Spain, with 400 years of history. I could describe its bark, its majesty, its height, how one of the large fallen branches has been converted into a table... But for Collado, this plane tree is yet another example of the enormous biodiversity this estate harbors, making it unique for the new project that has turned it upside down. As I interview him, he explains how the scent of wild garlic, moonflower, and water mint reaches him. A decade ago, it would have been impossible. From one day to the next, he lost his sense of smell.