Understanding Cannabis Nose Blindness: Causes and Solutions

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.

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.