How to train your nose: a practical guide to developing your sense of smell in perfumery

Introduction

Training your sense of smell is the first step to understanding perfumes. And it is also one of the biggest difficulties for beginners.

If you've ever felt that:

  • you struggle to describe scents
  • you can't distinguish notes
  • or you simply want to "smell better"

this guide is for you.

In this article, you will learn:

  • how to develop your sense of smell in practice
  • simple exercises you can do at home
  • how to create your own olfactory vocabulary

Why is it important to train your sense of smell?

In perfumery, there is an essential rule:

Know your raw materials

But knowing is not just knowing the name.

It means understanding:

  • the scent
  • how it evolves over time
  • its behaviour in a composition

And that only develops with practice.

The sense of smell is a skill.

How to describe scents (even without vocabulary)

One of the biggest difficulties is this:

“What does this smell like…?”

And the truth is: you don't have to use perfect words

You can use:

  • sensations (fresh, warm, light)
  • tastes (sour, sweet, bitter)
  • images (transparent, crystalline, heavy)

For example, a lemon can be:

  • fresh
  • sour
  • juicy
  • light
  • bright

There is no right or wrong.

Exercise 1: Training your sense of smell with things at home

This is the simplest and one of the most effective exercises.

How to do it:

  1. Choose an ingredient (e.g., lemon, coffee, herbs)
  2. Smell carefully
  3. Write down everything you perceive
  4. Avoid naming the object

The goal is to force your brain to translate scent into language

Exercise 2: Create your olfactory vocabulary

Whenever you describe a scent:

Write it down

Over time, you will create:

  • a personal database
  • associations between words and aromas

And this completely changes the way you smell.

Exercise 3: Studying raw materials (like a perfumer)

If you want to go deeper:

You will need:

  • paper strips (blotters)
  • ingredients (or fragrances)

Process:

  1. Dip the strip into the material
  2. Smell (without seeing the name, if possible)
  3. Describe the scent
  4. Save your notes

This develops olfactory perception and memory

How to understand the evolution of a scent

One of the most important aspects:

The scent changes over time

Do this:

  • smell it at first
  • after 30 minutes
  • 2 hours
  • 8 hours
  • the next day

You will notice:

  • materials that disappear quickly (more volatile)
  • materials that last (less volatile)

How to "reset" your sense of smell

When you stop smelling scents:

Your nose is saturated

Forget the coffee (it's a myth)

Do this:

  • smell your own skin (without perfume)

It works as a natural "reset"

How to improve your sense of smell daily

You don't need a lab.

You can simply:

  • pay attention to the smells around you
  • walk and identify aromas
  • stop and observe

Training begins with attention

Smell is memory and emotion

The sense of smell is deeply linked to memory.

A scent can:

  • transport you back in time
  • remind you of people
  • activate emotions instantly

Training your sense of smell is not just about learning perfumery. It's about learning to experience the world better.

Conclusion

Developing your sense of smell is a process.

It doesn't happen in a day, but it starts with something simple:
Paying attention

Over time, you will:

  • recognize more scents
  • describe them better
  • and perceive more consciously

And this completely changes the way we experience perfumes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode

This article was inspired by episode 002 of the podcast Todos os Caminhos Vão Dar ao Aroma, where I explore this process more personally.

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