olfaction
The sense of smell with its characteristics for the main olfactory systems and the more specific systems such as human olfactory system or accessory olfactory system.
olfaction — the sense of smell with its characteristics for the main olfactory systems and the more specific systems such as human olfactory system or accessory olfactory system. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 50.68/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030. ESCO classifies it as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 1 occupations in our catalogue, including sensory scientist.
Occupations that require olfaction
Showing top 1 of 1 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.
Frequently asked questions
What is olfaction?
The sense of smell with its characteristics for the main olfactory systems and the more specific systems such as human olfactory system or accessory olfactory system.
What category of skill is olfaction?
ESCO classifies olfaction under the knowledge category, specifically in the biology subcategory.
Is olfaction an AI-durable skill?
McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 50.68/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030. Prioritise this skill only when it directly enables paid work today — plan for AI to absorb more of it every year.
Which jobs require olfaction?
In our catalogue, 1 occupations list olfaction as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include sensory scientist.
How transferable is olfaction between industries?
ESCO tags olfaction as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.
Is olfaction the same as olfactory sensing?
Yes — olfaction is also known as olfactory sensing, sense of smell, smelling, or olfactory sense. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.
How can I learn olfaction?
The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands olfaction and learn through delivery. Complement that with role-specific roadmaps and short courses. Explore the occupations below to see where this skill is used in practice.