What Causes ‘Smells’ and Why Do Some Stay With Us Longer Than Others?

Smells are like tiny invisible messages that our nose can read. Some messages are easy to forget, like when you walk past a wet dog, the smell goes away quickly because it’s simple and doesn’t stick around. Other smells, like those from your favorite perfume or your mom’s cooking, are more complex. These messages take longer to read and are harder to forget, so they stay with us longer.

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Examples

Smell persistence makes your favorite perfume linger all day, while the smell of a wet sock disappears after just a few minutes.
Odor molecules from your breakfast coffee might stay with you until lunchtime, but the smell of a matchstick only lasts seconds.
Olfactory memory helps you remember the scent of your childhood home even when it’s been years since you were there.

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Categories: Science · smell,olfaction,sensory perception,science of scents