Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
German to English translations [PRO] Medical - Biology (-tech,-chem,micro-) / Wahrnehmung
German term or phrase:Geruchssinn
Ich versuche, einen Text über Düfte (von Blumen) ins Englische zu übersetzen. Es geht konkret um die Duftwahrnehmung des Menschen.
Der Satz lautet:
"Der ***Geruchssinn*** ist direkt mit dem limbischen System, das unser emotionales Verhalten steuert, verbunden."
Die einzige Übersetzung, die ich gefunden habe, lautet "sense of smell". Es geht in dem Text aber ausschließlich um Düfte, nicht um Gerüche, also um "scents", nicht um "smells". Ist "sense of smell" trotzdem richtig?
Sense of smell, then. Camelia lovers are absolutely normal people, not necessarily with a degree in science. Except if the author tries to be incredibly sophisticated in this chapter (see David Williams' comment).
The text is not a scientific one rather a gardening book for camellia lovers. The main part of the text are description of scented camellias, there is only one short chapter upfront discussing scent in general.
Ok, looking at the discussion here, I conclude that "sense of smell" is definitely on the safe side, whereas the scientific term might come across as "posh" or pretentious.
By the way: A "scent" may be a very refined thing (compared to a "smell") but if you want to explore it you still have to "smell" the rose flower. The sense as such ish therefore not a different one. To smell the scent you have to use your sense of smell :-)
"olfactory sense" would only normally be use in scientific texts, or by very pretentious people trying to look clever (i.e. the bankers mentioned by Jumplanguage).
Wenn vom "limbischen System" die Rede ist, würde ich auf jeden Fall "olfactory sense" nehmen. Wie gesagt, ich habe schon Bankkaufleute in London dieses Wort nutzen hören.
Klaus, how scientific is your text? Both suggestions so far are correct translations, but it deprends on who is going to read it as to which is the best one for your purposes.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
4 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
Sense of smell
Explanation: Yes, we always talk of a sense of smell, even if we are discussing scents, perfumes etc.
Grace Hughes United Kingdom Local time: 03:00 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4