A temporary reduction in how noticeable an odour feels during continued or repeated exposure.
Also known as: nose blindness
Our response to an odour can diminish with exposure. Moving away from the smell and allowing a break can change what you notice on returning. This effect makes repeated close sniffing an imperfect way to judge longevity; it does not explain every disappointing wear test.
Your perfume seems to have vanished, but a friend notices it when you meet.
“I stopped noticing it myself, so I asked someone else before deciding it had faded.”
This temporary experience is not the same as persistent loss of smell, or anosmia. Do not use the glossary to diagnose a new or lasting change in smell.
Use as context for self-reported performance, without correcting or dismissing someone’s experience.
Reviewed October 9, 2026 by the Noteboxd editorial team.