Retronasal olfaction can heavily influence how something tastes. In experiments, Katz says that changing the scent someone inhales while eating can change how they perceive the flavor, even if the stuff in their mouth is otherwise exactly the same. But while scent is a huge part of taste, it is not a replacement for it.
“Smell changes taste, but taste isn’t just whatever smell tells it,” Katz says. “You can stuff as much raspberry up your nose as you want, that’s not going to make you taste raspberry.”
— Wired does not like the Air Up water bottle (remember those?); read more in Review: The Air Up Water Bottle.
