How to Smell Flowers

Some people think that our scent receptors become anesthetized. This might be a kind of olfactory habituation, analogous to the way we tune out any other constant stimulus. Not every expert agrees that ‘nose fatigue’ exists, but we all meet people who wear too much cologne and seem oblivious to the smell. We lose the ability to register the quality of a smell when we are overwhelmed by the quantity.

To sample a flower’s scent to the fullest, take many quick sniffs. When you sniff, you create currents that force air into the upper chambers of the nose, which greatly increases perception. Short whiffs keep the floral fragrance fresh by exposing our scent receptors to little bursts of molecules- a deep inhale smothers them and they soon become indiscernible. It’s like sampling wine: The first sip is different from subsequent mouthfuls.

If you smell a lot of flowers of the same kind and want to take a break, do what pros do and just smell the crook of your elbow so as to be ready for the next, fresh scent. Since you are always accustomed to your own skin, it is the best thing to smell to reset your nose to the baseline.

When sampling the smell of a blossom, concentrate; try to ignore distractions. Close your eyes. Don’t wear perfume or cologne or allow someone who does to stand nearby. Don’t carry a strongly flavored drink or chew gum.