Arcana Coelestia #3575
3575. 'And he smelled the odour of his clothes' means the pleasing emanation from the truth of good which he perceived. This is clear from the meaning of 'odour' as that which is pleasing, dealt with in 925, and of 'smelling' as perceiving that which is pleasant, and from the meaning of 'clothes' as truth, dealt with in 297, 1073, 2576. Because the clothes were Esau's, to whom 'his' refers here, and 'Esau' represents the good of the natural, it is the truth of good that is meant. The truth of good is that which is produced in the natural through the direct and indirect influx of the rational, dealt with above in 3573. This was the truth that was being sought. But because it could not be produced by means of direct influx from the good of the rational without indirect influx simultaneously, that is, influx through the truth of the rational, and this was not possible except through the many intermediate things which Esau and Jacob are used to describe here in the internal sense, 'smelling the odour of his clothes' therefore means the truth of good which was perceived.
John 8:52-58
52
Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'
53
Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
54
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
55
You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.
56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."
57
The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
58
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."