OLFACTORY FATIGUE
Q: Why don’t I smell the perfume that I’m wearing?
A: It’s because of something we call ‘olfactory fatigue’.
The brain is brilliant when deciding whether or not an odour is important. Our sense of smell will quickly detect danger from smoke or a gas leak, but as soon as our brain has recognized there is no real danger present, it notes that odour as ‘safe’ and forgets about it. The scent hasn’t actually disappeared, it’s just that the brain no longer sees the importance in detecting it, so you can no longer smell it. This is true for any kind of odour — even pleasant ones like perfume.
So while you may think the perfume you are wearing has faded, think twice before spritzing on some more.
Olfactory fatigue may make you oblivious to the fragrance you are wearing, but other people won’t be! Be sure not to apply so much fragrance that it becomes overpowering.
Lesson du jour: Trust your perfume and your brain. Less is more.
ENROL ONTO THE FRAGRANCE 101 MASTERCLASS TO LEARN MORE!
