Amount exceeded
The RQS Blog
.
News and Industry
RQS News
Cannabis Culture
Cannabis Use
Cannabis How To
Gadgets and Accessories
Canna-recipes
Legalization
Cannabis Around The World
Understanding Cannabis Nose Blindness: Causes and Solutions
If we smoke weed too often, the truth is that we can become desensitised to it on many different levels. Here we're looking at the phenomenon of cannabis nose blindness, exploring exactly why it happens and how to reverse it.
Contents:
Ever noticed that weed used to be the strongest smell in the world, and now it’s little more than a background scent? Well, it’s probably not the weed that’s changed, but you!
When we experience a certain smell again and again over time, we tend to become desensitised to it, and our ability to experience it diminishes. This is known as nose blindness. Here we explore this phenomenon, why it occurs, and what we can do to reverse it in the context of cannabis.
What Is Nose Blindness?
Nose blindness is not a health condition but a normal response to overexposure to certain smells. As creatures, we have evolved to be very aware of stimuli we do not recognize, and to stop noticing many that we are used to. The evolutionary reasons for this differ depending on the type of smell and our association with it, but as a general phenomenon this is known as nose blindness and can be understood as simply getting used to, and subsequently desensitised to, a particular smell.
Usually, the olfactory system (our sense of smell) becomes used to bad smells more quickly than pleasant ones. This may be because, while bad smells warn us of danger, we do not need to remain exposed to them as their unpleasantness can be quite overwhelming. Even though more pleasant smells have more longevity, they still can fade over time if we encounter them too regularly. This is indeed true for those who use cannabis on a regular basis.
-
Defining Nose Blindness in the Context of Cannabis
Regular cannabis users may well discover that, over time, their sensitivity to the manifold scents and flavor nuances of cannabis decreases. For many, this won’t be perceived as particularly traumatic, though perhaps a little disappointing. But for those who love cannabis chiefly for its wide variety of aromas, this impending nose blindness can be a significant detriment to their enjoyment of the herb. Fortunately, when cannabis nose blindness does occur, it can be reversed.
-
Nose Blindness vs Anosmia: What’s the Difference?
While nose blindness is a normal and totally healthy response to smells that are common to us, anosmia is a condition where people experience a partial or total loss of smell and taste. Usually, this mainly affects the nose and leaves people with the ability to taste sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, etc.—all the flavors the taste buds are responsible for detecting. The more refined tastes and smells, dealt with by the nose, tend to be lost.
Nose blindness is specific to smells that we are regularly exposed to; anosmia, on the other hand, will affect a person’s ability to smell more generally.
The Science Behind Nose Blindness
But why does nose blindness occur? Below we’ll take a more in-depth look at this common phenomenon and explore a little about what is actually happening in our brains and bodies.
-
The Role of the Olfactory System in Sensing Cannabis Compounds
On a physical level, humans have a superb sense of smell, similar to most mammals. However, for reasons that are not entirely understood, our ability to make use of this hardware is severely diminished, and as such, olfaction is relegated to something of a sub-sense in most people; it is not necessary for survival, at least in the modern day. Most animals would be lost with such a diminished sense of smell.
On an evolutionary level, olfaction helps us to navigate the world. It tells us what smells good to eat, and what smells bad. Rotting meat can be smelt from a large distance, which likely serves to warn us of potential sources of poison and infection.
Many creatures, including plants, have evolved to exhibit strong smells, either to warn predators away or to lure in pollinators and mates. In the case of cannabis, this plant has evolved to have some pretty pungent aromas, thanks to a cocktail of terpenes, esters, VSCs, and flavonoids. Our noses are very good at detecting these smells—even though they’re not meant for us—and on the whole, we’re fond of them!
-
How Constant Exposure to Weed Impacts Sensory Perception
As mentioned, continued exposure to a smell reduces olfactory detection. This does not happen in the nose, but in the brain. When the same signals are sent to the brain, adjacent cells in the piriform cortex are not activated. However, when a novel smell is introduced, they activate differently, showing that the brain is on the lookout for novel smells so it can direct attention towards novel and potentially dangerous[1]/helpful stimuli.
The Causes of Cannabis Nose Blindness
Now that we know a little about how the olfactory system works and how it detects cannabis, let’s look at some reasons we might become nose-blind to this herb of which we’re so very fond.
-
Excessive Exposure
As mentioned, the main reason for weed nose blindness is typically overexposure. If you encounter cannabis on a daily basis, you’re likely to become desensitised to it. Now, you probably won’t stop smelling it all together, but the presence of its smell will diminish as your brain directs attention elsewhere. This will be particularly true if you regularly consume the same strain.
-
Environmental Factors
If you suddenly notice that you can’t really smell your weed, it may be that nose blindness isn’t the cause. Instead, their might some environmental factor at play. Perhaps there is a more novel and overpowering smell in the air? Or maybe the humidity is particularly high. Smells are more detectable in dry air, which is why joints and cigarettes often smell particularly pungent on cold, crisp winter nights. It may also be that you are unwell and that your sense of smell has temporarily diminished as a result of this. Or, maybe your weed just doesn’t smell very strong!
The Implications Of Cannabis Nose Blindness
Nose blindness isn’t objectively a problem, but depending on your situation and what you want to get out of your cannabis use, it might have some subjective downsides to it. Below are two of the most obvious.
-
Loss of Enjoyment When Using Weed
If you’re the type of cannabis user who loves pungent scents and flavors, then it’s probably very annoying to lose your sensitivity to them. And though you very well may become less aware of every flavor nuance, nose blindness shouldn't eradicate your ability to detect at least some aromas and tastes.
-
Lack of Awareness in Social Situations
Nose blindness might also mean that you underestimate how much you or your living space/car smell like weed! Perhaps you have some bud in your pocket; even though you can’t smell it, everyone else probably can. Or maybe you’ve had a quick smoke on the way to work and think the scent has gone, when in fact it lingers about your person like, well, a bad smell. So, be mindful that you might lack the ability to detect the weedy aroma you carry around with you.
How to Reduce Cannabis Nose Blindness
So, can you reduce nose blindness? The good news is, you most certainly can, and below we’ll look at some methods to do just that.
- Exercise
- Research has shown that regular exercise over a long period helps to maintain the high sensitivity of the olfactory system. Whether this counteracts nose blindness or just helps to prevent anosmia is uncertain, but it definitely can’t hurt to do some exercise!
- Stay Hydrated
- Dehydration can temporarily reduce our ability to smell. Therefore, it can help to hydrate before a session, as this will help to activate our olfactory system and make our noses more sensitive. And, what’s more, you’ll probably enjoy your high significantly more if you feel well hydrated throughout.
- Leverage Coffee
- Coffee, as an odorant, has been shown to dislodge other molecules from receptors in the olfactory system, allowing it to “reset” the system. Now, this won’t counteract nose blindness per se, but it will generally help to get your olfactory system as sensitive as possible before a session.
- Switch Between Strains
- To directly combat nose blindness, you would do well to switch regularly between strains with different aroma/flavour profiles. The more different your weed smells the more novel it will be and the more sensitive your ability to smell will remain. So, if you have the luxury, change up your weed and keep things fresh for your nose, but also your overall experience too.
- Take Breaks
- Sometimes, a total break from weed might be necessary to allow the system to reset. Not only will this counter nose blindness, but the additional tolerance break will give your brain a healthy rest, and means you will enjoy the high more when you return to cannabis down the line.
- Stop Smoking
- Smoking is known to reduce our sense of smell and taste. So, if the taste of cannabis is critical to you, it’s worth stopping smoking. If you smoke cigarettes, dropping these and sticking to joints may make some difference. But ideally, if you switch entirely to vaping you’ll likely see a big change. Not only will this help your sense of smell, but removing combustion from the equation will actually make the weed taste better too, so it’s a win-win!
Weed Nose Blindness: Forever Cherish the Scent of Weed
For many who smoke weed on a regular basis, nose blindness can occur. For some, it’s not much of an issue, but for others it can really detract from the experience. Fortunately, by following the tips outlined here, it’s possible to reverse cannabis nose blindness and bring the novelty back to your sessions.
External Resources:
- Human olfaction: a constant state of change-blindness - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
Categories
