Candles are obviously one of my favorite things. I love the way they make a house smell, and how they create a relaxing ambiance. But recently, I've noticed that when I burn one of my favorite scents I can’t seem to smell them anymore. What's going on? Is there something wrong with me? Did someone turn rob one of my 5 senses? Turns out there is a very simple reason why you can’t smell your go to candle sometimes.
It didn’t occur to me that I would randomly stop smelling my candles while burning them. I would take the lid off my jar and easily smell the cold throw. But after some time of burning the candle I would forget it was even on. Not because I left the room but because I stopped smelling it entirely.
"Nose Blindness"
So what are you experiencing? You may be experiencing olfactory fatigue, otherwise known as "nose blindness." This is a common phenomenon that occurs when you are constantly exposed to the same scent. After a while, your nose becomes accustomed to the smell and is no longer able to detect it.
There are a few things you can do to combat olfactory fatigue and get the most out of your candles:
Try taking a break from them. Go outside for a walk or spend some time in another room of your house. This will give your nose a chance to reset and you'll be able to come back to the candle with fresh senses.
If you don’t want to take a walk outside or to a different room, try smelling your shirt or coffee beans. Introducing other scents to your nose will help it recognize others that vary.
Burn different candles! Do a lavender candle one day and a rose candle the next. Keeping you nose on its toes will always do the trick