SNIFFING

Intense, rapid, interrupted, multiple nasal re-inhalations stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, increasing sensitivity to the air particles carrying olfactory information. It optimizes our sense of smell.

Orthonasal olfaction refers to the process of perceiving odors through the inhalation of air containing scent molecules into the nasal passages.

Sniffing is a respiratory pattern characterized by the rapid inhalations of air through the nose. By drawing air in quickly and forcefully we maximize the exposure of odor molecules to the olfactory receptors in the nasal epithelium. By varying the intensity of the sniffs we can recognize nuances in complex scents.