The ability to smell fear has now been proven via scientific process. Of course, I am not sure anyone ever doubted the possibility. I’ve known since I was a boy fear causes an incredibly salient physiological experience which can easily be sensed in others in a variety of ways. This is mostly because I has so much experience being afraid myself…but it didn’t take long to see it in others.
You can smell lies too. This scene from Deadwood (my favorite HBO series of all time) illustrates the point brilliantly. If you are offended by the f word…don’t watch this video.