Nose-blindness is real, according to Science of Us. All of our homes have a smell, and we are all oblivious to them. Our guests, however, are much more aware.
Photo by SuperFantastic
This is OK for those who have homes that smell like candles all day and night. For others the house may smell like dirty laundry and its occupants may never know it. Cognitive psychologist Pamela Dalton gives us a tip she learned from perfumers: take a break.
“It’s actually a very robust phenomenon,” she says. “It’s why people go on vacation and come back and say, ‘Oh, it’s so musty in here — I’d better open some windows!’” Maybe your house is musty — but according to Dalton, it’s also possible that that’s what your house always smells like, but you just don’t usually notice it.
Spending a weekend away from your home every once in a while gives you the opportunity to experience the smells of your house like a guest would when you return. So, if you want to know how your house smells to visitors, spend more time than normal away from it. When you get home, fix any issues you notice.
Check out the link below for more information on this phenomenon.
Why Can’t You Smell Your Own Home? [Science of Us via Apartment Therapy]
Comments