The Art Of Wearing Cologne: Can You Smell Your Own?

It can be frustrating when you can't smell your own cologne, especially after spending a lot of money on it. This phenomenon is called olfactory adaptation or 'nose fatigue', and it happens when your nose gets used to a particular scent and stops noticing it. While it can be annoying when you want to enjoy your cologne yourself, it's worth noting that others around you can still smell it. Some people even believe that if you can't smell your cologne, it means it's the perfect match for your body chemistry. However, if you're someone who enjoys catching whiffs of your cologne throughout the day, there are ways to 'clear your nose' and re-smell your fragrance, such as smelling coffee beans or an un-fragranced forearm.

Why can't you smell your own cologne?

It's frustrating when you spend a lot of money on a fragrance, only for others to be able to smell it and not you. This often results in applying more than needed in the hopes of catching a whiff throughout the day. However, this only leads to two outcomes: A) you finish the bottle faster, and B) the scent becomes overpowering for those around you.

Olfactory Adaptation

This phenomenon is called Olfactory Adaptation, or 'nose fatigue', and is linked to how our body senses danger. When you first apply a cologne in the morning, you can smell it. However, as the day goes on, your nose becomes accustomed to it, to the point where you'd think you hadn't applied it at all. Our sense of smell is key to detecting danger, so once our body decides a smell isn't threatening, it blocks it, making our nose available to detect new scents and anything potentially harmful.

Nose Blindness

'Nose Blindness' is another term used to describe this process. When we are exposed to a smell constantly, like that of the cologne we are wearing, our nose gets used to the smell and stops noticing it. This happens very quickly, in just a few breaths according to cognitive psychologist Pamela Dalton, who has spent over 20 years researching scent memory and nose blindness.

How to 'Clear Your Nose'

If you want to be able to smell your cologne again, there are several 'nose-clearing techniques' that can help. These include smelling coffee beans, a swatch of wool, or even your un-fragranced forearm.

Olfactory Fatigue

Olfactory fatigue is another term used to describe this phenomenon. It occurs when your nose gets tired of detecting a scent that is harmless, so it shuts off. So the scent is still there, but you can no longer smell it.

Anosmia

Some people experience anosmia, where they are unable to smell particular notes or note combinations in a fragrance.

The Perfect Cologne

Some believe that if you can smell your cologne, you are wearing too much, and the perfect cologne is one that others can smell on you but you can't. However, many people disagree with this, as they wear cologne for their own pleasure, so if they can't smell it, what's the point?

What is olfactory fatigue?

Olfactory fatigue, also known as odor fatigue, odor habituation, olfactory adaptation, or noseblindness, is the temporary inability to distinguish a particular scent after prolonged exposure to that airborne compound. In other words, it is the body's natural desensitization to a smell over time.

For example, you may apply your favourite perfume in the morning and be able to smell it, but later in the day, you notice that you can't smell it anymore, even though others can. This phenomenon also works with unpleasant odours. It is a form of sensory adaptation and neural adaptation, which prevents the nervous system from overloading and allows us to respond to new stimuli.

Olfactory fatigue can also reduce one's awareness of chemical hazard exposure. For instance, in indoor environments, the perception of odours from people, tobacco, and cleaning agents can be affected by olfactory fatigue.

The speed at which olfactory fatigue sets in varies from person to person. There are ways to trick your brain into regaining sensitivity to a smell, such as smelling something with acidity like coffee or lemons, or smelling your shirt (as the fabric can offset the sensitivity).

How to test if you're wearing too much cologne

It's important to know how much cologne is too much, as you don't want to be "that guy" who over-applies. Here are some ways to test if you're wearing too much cologne:

• The nose hair and eye-watering test: If your nose hairs are burning and your eyes are watering, it's a good indication that you've overdone it.
• The taste test: If you can taste your cologne in your mouth, you've probably applied too much.
• The half-hour test: If you can still smell your cologne half an hour after applying, you may have used too much.
• The car test: Get into a hot car with leather seats and no AC. If you can still smell your cologne, it passes the test! However, be aware that some fragrances perform better than others in such conditions.
• The spin test: Spray on your cologne and spin around. If you get light-headed, you've probably overdone it.
• The pulse point test: Apply a small amount of cologne to your pulse points, such as your wrists, neck, and chest. These areas generate heat and will help diffuse the fragrance. If you can still smell it after a few minutes, it's likely too much.
• The close friend test: Ask a close friend or family member for their opinion. They can tell you if your application is appropriate, as you can become nose-blind to scents you wear often.

To avoid over-application, it's recommended to start with a light application and build up if needed. Hold the spray bottle 3-6 inches from your body and choose one area, like the neck or forearms, to start with. Re-apply if needed throughout the day, especially if you're going out in the evening.

How to clear your nose of a smell

It is common to lose your sense of smell or for it to change, and this is usually due to sinus infections, allergies, nasal polyps, or loss of smell (anosmia). This can be unpleasant and affect your sense of taste, but it is often temporary and rarely serious.

If you are experiencing a persistent bad smell in your nose, it could be due to several health conditions, including:

• Sinusitis (sinus infection)
• Nasal polyps
• Tooth decay
• Tonsil stones
• Chronic kidney disease
• COVID-19-related parosmia
• Phantosmia (smelling things that aren't there)

Clean the Inside of Your Nose

Rinsing the inside of your nose with a saltwater solution can help bring back your sense of smell if it is affected by an infection or environmental allergies.

To make a saltwater solution:

• Boil a pint of water and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda to the water, then mix until dissolved.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Stand over a sink, cup the palm of one hand, and pour a small amount of the solution into it.
• Sniff the solution up one nostril at a time and let it run out of your nose. You can hold your other nostril closed with your finger as you sniff.
• Repeat these steps a few times to see if it helps.

Note: Make a fresh batch of the solution for each use and do not reuse any leftover solution from the previous day.

Over-the-Counter Medications/Prescription Medication

If your loss of smell is due to obstruction (blockage) of your nasal passages, you can try the following treatments:

• Nasal decongestants: These reduce nasal congestion and fluid buildup in your nose, opening up your nasal passages and improving your sense of smell. They are available in sprays, drops, and inhalers.
• Antihistamines: These relieve nasal congestion, stuffy nose, and other allergy symptoms. They are available as pills, nasal sprays, or eye drops.
• Steroidal nasal sprays: These decrease swelling, inflammation, and mucus within the nasal passages and can also treat nasal polyps.
• Intranasal theophylline spray: A 2017 study found that this improved and sustained the sense of smell in 50% of participants.
• Oral steroids: These can shrink down nasal polyps and restore your sense of smell.

Smell Training

Smell training can help improve your sense of smell by exposing you to certain scents. This therapy can stimulate the trigeminal nerve that runs through the face and nose.

To try smell training:

• Get four empty glass jars with lids, cotton pads, or fragrance strips.
• Pour a few drops of one of the following essential oils onto a testing stick or pad: lemon, rose, eucalyptus, or clove. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the fragrance to develop. Skip this step if using a jar.
• Hold the jar, pad, or fragrance strip up to your nose, about an inch away.
• Relax and try to inhale naturally through your nose.
• Try this a few more times and then rest for five minutes before moving on to the next fragrance.
• It is recommended to smell train at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, sniffing the fragrance for 10 seconds each time.
• Be sure to also sniff other things like spices, flowers, or other fragrances that are safe to smell.

Why does it help to forget a smell?

Forgetting a smell can be beneficial as it helps us detect changes in our environment. Our brain automatically filters out smells after prolonged exposure, a phenomenon known as olfactory adaptation or "nose fatigue". This occurs because our brain has determined the smell isn't threatening and blocks it to make our nose available to detect new scents and potential dangers.

Additionally, our sense of smell is strongly linked to memory and emotion. The part of the brain responsible for processing smells, the olfactory bulb, is located next to the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in forming new memories. Smells can evoke powerful memories and emotions, sometimes from our childhood, and these memories tend to be more vivid and emotional than those triggered by other senses.

However, our ability to identify and differentiate between various smells is limited. We struggle to put smells into words and often describe them in association with things they resemble. This difficulty in verbalizing smells may contribute to their ability to trigger deeply hidden memories.

Furthermore, the complexity of smell receptors and the constant regeneration throughout our lifetime make it challenging to consistently perceive the same scent. The act of forgetting a smell allows us to re-experience it with fresh perspective and appreciation.

In conclusion, forgetting a smell can enhance our awareness of changes in our surroundings, trigger powerful memories and emotions, and provide a novel sensory experience.

Frequently asked questions