If you are looking for a very basic article discussing the function of smell and taste, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (another word unrecognizable by my spell-checker) has a simple article on the subject answering some basic questions such as…

  1. How do smell and taste work?
  2. What causes loss of smell and taste?
  3. How are smell and taste loss diagnosed?
  4. Can these disorders be treated?
  5. How do you cope with smell or taste problems?
  6. [What makes up] Flavor?

So jump on over there for answers to the above questions.