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Why can’t we smell our own homes?

November 9, 2026 · 4 min

Show notes

You come home after a two-week holiday, open the front door and notice a familiar smell. It’s the smell of your home! But when you’re there every day, you barely notice it.

Don’t worry, your home hasn’t suddenly developed a new smell while you’ve been away. Your nose and brain have simply grown used to it.

But why do we stop noticing smells when we’re exposed to them all the time? So why does our body do this? So why do we notice our home’s smell again when we come back from holiday? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the latest episodes, click here:

Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?

How can you change your body odour?

How can I reduce damp and mould in your home?

A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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