Quote:
Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc
So, basically, I don't have anything against Ibrin's interpretation, if it is basically the same thing that I meant - or if meant literally (that there is really a purely mechanical thing like smelling "Elvishness-pheromones"), it is not, in which case I disagree with it  |
It's close to the same, but not quite. By 'natural senses,' I mean those abilities, both physical and non-physical that Elves possess, to varying degrees. We know that some Elves, like Galadriel, can look from mind to mind (and not just because she has Nenya), just as these days, some humans have, reportedly, telepathic or empathic abilities. Elves with this skill would be able to sense more about a Mortal than their mere appearance, scent, etc. If they are able discern certain positive qualities about a person, they might be able to know that they are what they call an Elf-friend. It is more than physical (although I believe certain physical cues might be a tip-off); it's at least partially psychic.
For orcs and such, though, it might be purely physical, even a smell. Gollum can't bear the touch of hithlain or the taste of lembas. Orcs might smell things like Elven cloth, or the scent of a person who has been eating a lot of Elven food. One never knows about such critters.