Ten Incredible Facts About Your Sense Of Smell

Are you aware of the five big senses human has? They are Sight, Hearing, Smell, Tasting, and Touch. There are more than five senses in the human body. Do you know which one is the oldest? Your sense of Smell!! Olfaction is the scientific term for the word smell. So here the nose is the primary organ that helps in smell, but behind the nose is the brain. The Olfactory system, inside the brain, guides us while smelling. The sense of smell is one of the most important functions of our body. The drooling you get after smelling your favorite food is also because of the odor memory.

So, listing out some of the most incredible facts about the sense of smell.

Ten Incredible Facts About Your Sense Of Smell!

1. One Trillion Different Smells

Humans have distinct capabilities. So our nose can detect one trillion different smells. Odour is present in mixtures,  which means one smell is made up of many components. The smell of rose is made up of 275 components.

2. Unique Odor Identity

You must be aware of the fact that every single person has a unique fingerprint. Similarly, we have our way to smell things. This means that your power of smelling things is different from your friends. Except for identical twins, no two people can smell the same way.

3. Not Everyone Can Smell

It sounds weird, but it’s a fact that not everyone can smell. ANOSMIA, the condition wherein one cannot detect odours. Some people can also have HYPOSMIA. In this condition, the loss of smell is partial. Also, one might be anosmic to a particular odour (specific anosmia). Such a state of the body can sometimes indicate a serious health problem.

4. Good Smell, Happy Human

It is said that smell affects one’s mood.  Imagine you enter a room full of different flowers. You suddenly become happy. And now consider the exact opposite scenario. Wherein you enter a room full of garbage, and you feel awful. This means smell affects our brain. You may have your favourite scent because that scent makes you feel good.

5. You Get A New Nose

Another incredible fact, right! So basically it’s a process of regeneration. The neurons in the nasal cavity renew throughout life. Regeneration happens every 30- 60 days. This means you can use a new nose every month to smell things. This process can be affected by age, quality of life, head trauma, etc.

6. Female Nose Smell Stronger

It’s been scientifically proven that a woman sense of smell is powerful. There is a simple reason, that is females have more cells in the olfactory area. There are various theories related to this fact. Like the stronger sense of smell helps the mother to bond with their child. Besides, it helps them find a potential partner.

7. Nose Is Sleepy In The Morning

Studies say that the nose is not sensitive in the morning. Because of the circadian cycle. When people are likely to sleep, the sense of smell decreases. However, it changes throughout the day.

8. You Can Smell Before Your Birth

Yes, we have the smelling ability before our birth. The scent receptors are well-developed by the end of the second trimester. So this helps babies to breathe and smell in their mother’s womb.

9.  Your Smell Can Sense Fear And Disgust

Most of the animals communicate through their nose. But now even humans can sense fear and disgust with the help of smell. Emotions are linked to chemicals inside the brain. So this helps us to recognise fear when we smell the ‘fear sweat’.

10. Smell Helps To Choose Your Favourite Food

Taste depends on your nose. You eat food that has a good odour. Also, even in times when your nose is blocked, you cannot taste your food. Because the sense of smell and taste goes hand in hand.

So, these were some incredible facts about your sense of smell. Hope you enjoyed reading.

Also Read: Unknown Facts About The Human Body