Why can't we smell ourselves?

Whether for a pleasant but excessive aroma or for a horrible pestilence, we all had to hold another human being that emitted a smell that was barely resistible .In these cases the person seems not realizing the problem at all.This situation has led us to ask: Why can't we smell ourselves? , and we have discovered that science has an answer.

We can't smell ourselves

If instead of the sense of smell, let's talk about sight, we could say that humans are «blind» to our own smell .phenomenon, which happens to all of us, is based on a fact known as "olfactory fatigue" or "olfactory adaptation" .Olfactory fatigue is a quality of our sense of smell and consists in the fact that after a certain period of time subjected to a certain smell, we stop perceiving it. This fact that can be positive in many occasions , it also presents a danger against dangerous substances and it is necessary to take it into account to avoid accidents.Without realizing it, we could get used to, for example, the smell of the gas that carries “mercaptans” so that we perceive ourselves of their presence and becoming undetectable to us.Olfactory fatigue has nothing to do with "anosmia" which is the loss of sense of smell permanently.

Of the Almost 1,000 olfactory genes, approximately 350 are responsible for "manufacturing" the olfactory receptors . Each receptor will react to a specific group of molecules with similar structures , detecting odors such as coffee, tomato, perfume, etc.If something awakens several receptors at once, it is perceived as a different smell.possible combinations cause to notice many different smells .How many? It used to be thought that around 10,000, but now, thanks to the research carried out at Rockefeller University, it is known that they far exceed the billion smells .

Why can't we smell ourselves?

Fatigue olfactory occurs because when we detect a certain smell, the receptors that are associated with that particular molecule , can no longer be stimulated again by a similar one and will only perceive those that are different.Our organism uses this adaptation to avoid overloading the nervous system.In some way, the odors we have been perceiving for some time become undetectable and for these receptors to activate again, they need an impact.that serves as a cleanser.In some perfumeries coffee beans are used since it is believed that its smell acts in that sense , but experts say that a simple and deep breath of fresh air can restore the receptors.

Why can't we smell ourselves?

The olfactory fatigue is beneficial for us as it allows us to smell everything around us without that the aroma is continuously modified by our own body odor.The drawback of olfactory fatigue is that, if we are not able to perceive the smell we give off ourselves, we may be bothering the rest of the people and not know.

If you have been interested in this article and you already know why we cannot smell ourselves, you may want to read the post:

–5 smells that will make you feel better

Images: Helen Horstmann-Allen, Luna Amanda

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