With the "super flu" doing the rounds, I had a moment of panic. I thought I lost my sense of smell, or was I just going nose blind? It made me wonder: how long before we stop smelling our own scent?
Olfactory fatigue usually kicks in within 20 minutes. Your brain filters out constant, safe smells to save processing power for new dangers.
While complex scents like Oud naturally last longer due to their depth, even they eventually fade into the background of your awareness.
Is it gone, or is it you? Try these checks before reapplying:
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The Coffee Reset: Sniff coffee beans to reset your nasal palate.
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The Re-Entry: Leave the room for 5 minutes and walk back in. If you catch a whiff, your scent bubble is still active.
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The Fabric Test: Smell your collar or scarf as fabric holds scent molecules longer than warm skin does.