When you smell an odor, you’re actually breathing in tiny molecules. These molecules stimulate specialized nerve cells, called olfactory sensory neurons, high inside the nose. There are a few million of these cells inside your nose. Each makes one of about 500 different types of odor receptor, enabling it to selectively capture a specific set of odor molecules. Essential oils and aromatic compounds involved in the creation of the scent. As nouns the difference between scent and essence is that scent is a distinctive odour or smell while essence is (senseid)the inherent nature of a thing or idea. Joby presents an interesting view on the deeper meaning of scents.