question about olfactory fetigue?

[flight567]

hey guys. i use this cologne, from Avon, and it smells really good....
but i quit using it for a while. but when i use it now, it seems to only last for an hour or two. is this just olfactory fetigue? (i can smell my dolce and gabbana for more than 12 hours..)
fatigue* sorry lol

 

[justinp]

Fragrances can go bad, particularly when exposed to light or heat for too long. So that's a possibility. But there's an easy way to test whether it's just olfactory fatigue-- have someone else smell you! Wife, girlfriend, sympathetic buddy... Just ask whether you're edging up on 'too much cologne guy' territory.

 

[Kevan]

Not sure if it's olfactory fatigue per se but it sounds like you've grown at least somewhat anosmic to it. That happens sometimes with light scents such as white musk. Short-term olfactory fatigue can be remedied by smelling coffee.

 

[tehtimmeh]

Better referred to as Ha-b*tch-uation. Mainly because it's a real b*tch when you've spent $$$$ on something and it doesn't seem to last to your nose

'cough' Creed Aventus 'cough'...

 

[-dave-]

it could certainly be the case, in my industry (the gas industry) an artificial odour is added so escaping gas can be smelt.. it is common for us to be called to a suspected gas escape, where the customer can smell gas, but to us we cant.
often this will be because there is no leak and the smell is caused by a dead mouse or similar problem, but now and then there will be a ever so slight leak and we cant smell it, and we have to rely on electronic methods, soapy water and pressure testing etc to locate leaks.
this is because due to regular exposure to a scent, you can become so familiar with it, you take it for granted and subsequently can no longer smell it

 

[Don B]

Short-term olfactory fatigue can be remedied by smelling coffee.

Seriously???

Don
I'm new here. Hi.

 

[AlanL]

Seriously???

Don
I'm new here. Hi.

Yup. Perfume counters in dept stores will have little cups of coffee beans to sniff between samples of perfume.

 

[Aaron01]

Yup. Perfume counters in dept stores will have little cups of coffee beans to sniff between samples of perfume.

I think that's mostly just to "clear out" any remaining scent from your nose, so you don't get any overlap. Sort of like rinsing your mouth out during a tasting.

I usually try and sniff no more than 4 scents if I'm at a counter just because of the overload, after a while they all start smelling the same...