Why Can't You Smell Your Own House?

Why Can't You Smell Your Own House?

Your dog, dirty clothes and old dishes all might have something to do with why your house smells. But there's a scientific reason for why you probably don't smell them. JUSTIN PAGET/GETTY IMAGES

Everybody's home has a distinct odor. There are the fleeting aromas of freshly baked bread, a bouquet of fresh flowers, or dog farts. However, there's also a distinct manner that your house... smells.

You seldom ever even pay attention to the scents in your own home. As soon as you step in, you become aware of how everyone else's space smells. They have pets, washing detergent, and a brand-new carpet, among other things. And together, those contribute to the stench of their home.

The reason you can't smell your own house is because your sense of smell becomes accustomed to the smells that are constantly present in your environment, including the smells in your house. This is called olfactory fatigue or adaptation. When you are exposed to a particular smell for an extended period of time, your brain adjusts to it and stops perceiving it. This is a natural process that helps to protect your sense of smell from being overwhelmed by constant stimuli. If you leave your house and return after a while, you may notice the smells more because your sense of smell has had time to reset.

However, you can only smell your own home after being away for a really long time. Like a week, not just a workday.

Sensory Adaptation

The topic of sensory adaptation is involved. That is the scientific way of expressing how you simply adjust to it. And this difference is more noticeable in our sense of smell than in any other sense, such as hearing. Pamela Dalton, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, has extensively studied sensory adaptation. According to her and her team, adaptation results in a reduction in response to repeated stimuli. The aroma of your home is therefore there wherever you go when you're at home. It remains forever. Not only is it repeated, but you are submerged in it. As a result, you get used to the fragrance.

But with smell, you soon become accustomed to different smells. You start to get used to a smell after "simply a few breaths," according to Dalton. You begin to perceive that smell as being less strong until you eventually stop noticing it at all. Because of this, even if you can smell your friend's home when you enter, you don't really pay attention to it while you're there.

It's crucial to be able to sense odors. It could be a sign of danger, such as a tiger approaching or poison in your drink. It could also mean something good, like that loaf of fresh bread or that arrangement of flowers. Once you've made the decision not to consume the tainted wine or indulge in the tempting bread, you no longer require that signal to quickly communicate with your brain. Instead, you can train your nose to detect new scents, whether they are poisonous or enticing.

How to Freshen Up Your House

Making your house smell better is a whole industry in itself. But first, make sure the stinking issue isn't actually severe before proceeding down that fragrant path. Older homes, in particular, may have problems like:

• Mildew and mold
• The floors were covered in old pet urine.
• Something that passed away in the crawlspace or walls
• unclean ductwork

Simple housekeeping problems like a dirty dishwasher or musty towels in the bathroom could be the cause. Then, there are countless candles, incense sticks, and oil diffusers that could work if you still want to change how your home smells.

It's crazy, right now

It appears that the "old-people scent" is genuine. The smell of oxidized fatty acids on the skin is known as nonenal, and it gets worse with age. Nonenal doesn't dissolve in water, thus it sticks to materials like upholstery. It's not detrimental; it's just another aspect of aging that we may look forward to.