Olfactory fatigue

Okay kiddo, have you ever smelled something really strong, like a stinky sock or a skunk? Remember how your nose might have felt a little weird afterward? That's kind of like what happens with olfactory fatigue.

You see, your nose has special cells called olfactory receptors that help you detect different smells. But these cells can get tired if they have to work too hard for too long. That's why if you keep smelling the same thing over and over again, eventually your nose starts to ignore it.

So let's say you're baking cookies with your mom. At first, the smell of the cookies is really strong and yummy, but as you keep working, you may not notice the smell as much. That's because your olfactory receptors are getting tired and not sending as many signals to your brain.

Olfactory fatigue can also happen if there's a really strong smell in a room or if you wear the same perfume or cologne every day. Your nose gets used to the smell and doesn't notice it as much.

But don't worry, kiddo. If you take a break from smelling something or change up the smells around you, your olfactory receptors will start working properly again.