The odour of humans is always a fleshly odour—that is, a sinful odour. - Patrick Süskind

He was in very truth his own God, and a more splendid God than the God that stank of incense and was quartered in churches.

What he coveted was the odor of certain human beings: that is, those rare humans who inspire love. These were his victims.

If this one, most essential freedom was taken from you, the freedom, that is, to withdraw from other people when necessity called, then all other freedoms were worthless. Then life had no more meaning. Then it would be better to be dead.