Almost undoubtedly the kiss originated from grooming/bonding behaviour and can be seen in its most primitive form by watching other primates. Other animals lick and preen.

The kiss today is commonly carried out as a gesture of love, respect, honour, greeting or farewell. Not all kisses are between people. People will kiss holy religious objects or the ground on returning to home country after a long absence (or after a frightening flight).

Amongst couples kissing is popular and can be chaste or intimate, a peck or sexual. The kiss in the Western sense is a relatively new phenomenom and was probably introduced to Europe from India by the returning army of Alexander the Great. There are references to kissing in Indian literature dating back to 1500 BC. Prior to this kissing in the Western sense was largely unknown in many races until fairly recent times and is still not the norm today.

Today we are most familiar with lip kissing, French kissing and a quick peck on the cheek or cheeks. Kissing is part of life.

Smell and taste are close allies, they are connected. I must be that closeness that began the "Sniff Kiss". Not only that but originally sniff and kiss were the same word.

The Thai name for the Sniff Kiss is 'Hawm Kaem' which translates as 'sweet smell cheek'. In the West it the nearest equivalent would be perhaps called a 'Sister Kiss' only it is not actually the same. Sniff Kissing is the norm in Thailand and over much of Asia.

The Eskimos do not, as is popularily believed, rub noses but actually sniff cheeks.

There is apparently a famous Sniff Kiss between Mulder and Skully of the X-Files.

"A kiss is the shortest distance between two." - Henry Youngman

"Soul meets soul on lover's lips." -Shelley

You Know you're Ilokano if you Sniff Kiss

No...I tell a lie. I Love Kissing. I can recollect special kisses, memorable kisses over my life. Some were intimate, some with lovers, some not but not any the less memorable for that. Kissing bonds.

Today in my world Lip kissing is special and reserved for people I would die for.

I am unsure when I first encountered the Asian Sniff Kiss. It probably happened a dozen or so times before I realised quite what was going on. Was it in the Philippines? Thailand? Malaysia? Vietnam or or? I am unsure.

Sniff kissing sounds so simple but needs a bit of practise. It is a sniff and a kiss at the same time. You can greet your friends with a sniff kiss and it is no more than that but with a lover....Once I knew I had been sniff kissed I really knew. Today it sends a shiver down my spine and makes goosebumps appear on my arms.

Looking forward to the next one. Maybe tonight?

The most intimate of Sniff Kisses is likely to be given to a partner returning from a night out 'alone'. Don't be fooled. Your girl will know in an instant if you have been with anyone else.

This is a bit more advanced than 'lipstick on the collar'!