Perfumery Craft

Olfactory Fatigue

Scent Blindness

Olfactory fatigue (scent blindness) is the temporary, natural inability of the nose to pick up a scent after prolonged exposure to it, even though others can still smell it clearly.

The nose adapts to a constant smell and stops reporting it, which is why you can lose track of your own perfume while the people around you still catch it. For perfumers it means judgement drifts during a long session: after a few materials or blotters, everything starts to smell alike. Taking a break and getting some fresh air lets the nose recover.

Related terms

SillageProjectionNoteDrydown
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