The Truth About Resetting Your Sense of Smell: Forget Coffee Beans!
Have you ever been told to sniff coffee beans to "reset" your sense of smell? It’s one of those myths that seems to linger, but the reality is that coffee beans don’t magically refresh your nose. Dr. Alexis Grosofsky from Beloit College’s Department of Psychology has scientifically proven that coffee beans do nothing to cleanse or reset your olfactory palate. Instead, we’re spilling the beans (pun intended) on the best ways to reset your sense of smell, and how this knowledge can enhance your experience with WILLOW Candles and home fragrances.
Why Coffee Beans Don’t Work
The idea behind sniffing coffee beans is that their strong aroma "neutralizes" your nose. In reality, coffee beans are just another scent, and introducing a new fragrance doesn’t clear your olfactory palette. It can actually overwhelm your senses further, making it harder to distinguish subtle notes in perfumes, candles, or diffusers.
What Really Works?
If you’re testing out fragrances—whether it’s one of our WILLOW Candles or a custom diffuser blend—try these scientifically supported methods instead:
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Sniff the Crook of Your Arm Your own skin (free of perfume or lotion) offers a neutral scent. By sniffing the crook of your arm, you give your nose a moment to recalibrate without adding new aromas to the mix.
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Step Into Fresh Air A short break outside in fresh air helps clear your nasal passages and restores your ability to pick up on subtle fragrances. If you can’t step outside, find an area with good ventilation indoors.
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Take a Scent Break Give your nose a few minutes to rest before diving back into fragrance testing. This is especially useful during our Candle workshops or when exploring new products from our seasonal collections.
How to Enhance Your Fragrance Experience
At WILLOW Candles, we’re all about creating memorable moments through scent. Here are some fun ways to use your refreshed nose while enjoying our products:
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Create Your Signature Blend: Join our "Build Your Own Diffuser" experience to craft a scent that’s uniquely yours.
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Explore Layered Fragrances: Take your time discovering the top, middle, and base notes in our premium candles and wax melts.
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Seasonal Scents: Experience the magic of our seasonal scents with a clear, discerning nose.
Fun Facts About Your Nose
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The average human nose can distinguish about 1 trillion scents!
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Smell is the sense most closely linked to memory and emotion—one sniff of our "SUNDAY HAZE" candle can transport you straight to a relaxed sunday afternoon making memories with family and friends
Share the Scent Love
Ready to explore the world of home fragrances with a fresh perspective? Browse our collection of vegan, cruelty-free candles and diffusers. Or join one of our hands-on workshops to learn more about the art of scent.
Let’s leave the coffee beans in the cup where they belong and enjoy every beautiful, hand-poured fragrance WILLOW Candles has to offer!
Shop Now or Join the Candle Club
Discover your next favourite scent today. Shop WILLOW Candles or Sign up for the Candle Club for exclusive perks and workshops.