3577. As the smell of a field. That this signifies as from good ground out of which comes truth, is evident from the signification of the “smell of a field,” as being the perception of truth from good, like the exhalation from the harvest in a field (that “field” denotes good ground may be seen above, n. 3500). The reason why “smell” signifies perception, is that the delights of good and the pleasant things of truth which are perceived in the other life, manifest themselves there by corresponding odors (see n. 1514, 1517-1519); and from this and also from the correspondences it is evident that smell is nothing else than the perceptive, but the natural perceptive that corresponds to the spiritual perceptive.

1517. A vinous odor was perceived, and I was informed that it came from those who compliment one another from friendship and rightful love, so that there is also truth in the compliments. This odor exists with much variety, and comes from the sphere of the beautiful in forms.