What is the Physics behind Smells?

[chrismcgivney]

I was thinking about light and sound and then I thought "what about smells?".

What I mean is, what's the physics behind a smell?? Is it a wave, is there particles that you smell?? It sounds weird but I'm really curious about this.

I understand it might be in the biology sort-of area but then again: everything is physics.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ISamson]

Welcome to PF!
I think this is more chemistry we are talking about, but anyway...
Different smells are composed of different chemicals and molecules, which we perceive differently with our olfactory sense. For example:

 

[chrismcgivney]

Thanks, that's crazy

 

[ISamson]

Therefore, it is particles that we smell.