Why Do I Smell So Strongly in Some Places, but Hardly at All in Others?

 

Why Do I Smell So Strongly in Some Places, but Hardly at All in Others?

Our sense of smell is powerful, yet strangely inconsistent. Some of us notice tiny changes in the air, like when the iron has been left on or hair curlers are heating up, while in other situations we hardly notice any smells at all. For autistic and ADHD people, especially, this “all or nothing” sensory experience can be confusing, overwhelming, or simply puzzling.

What Is Sensory Processing?

Sensory processing is the way our brain receives, organises, and responds to information from our senses. Everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell feeds into how we understand our environment.

Think of it as the control centre of daily life. Your brain is constantly asking:

• Is this safe?
• Do I need to pay attention to this?
• How should I respond?

Without sensory processing, we wouldn’t know when food is ready, when a car is approaching, or even how to enjoy a comforting smell like fresh laundry. We rely on our senses to guide decisions, keep us safe, and connect us with the world around us.

For neurodivergent people, though, sensory processing often works differently. Smells, sounds, or textures might come through too strongly, or fade into the background completely. This makes the world feel unpredictable, with the senses acting like a switch that flicks on and off.

When Smells Feel Intense

For many, smells arrive like a loud burst of information. For example:

• Smelling heat – You can walk into a room and instantly know the iron has been left on, or that hair straighteners are still plugged in. What you’re actually smelling are tiny particles released when the surface heats up. Most people won’t notice it, but your brain has tuned in and flagged it as important.
• Detecting food – The faintest whiff of onions, garlic, or spices cooking next door might fill your senses until it feels impossible to think about anything else.
• Cigarette smoke – Someone lights up across the street, and it’s as if they’re standing right next to you. The smell lingers in your nose long after the person has gone.

These moments show how sensitive smell can be; sometimes it feels like a superpower.

When Smells Disappear

Yet in other places, the opposite happens. At work, for example, you may barely notice any smells at all. Why?

• Competing scents – Cleaning sprays, perfumes, food in the staff room, the air conditioning—it’s all there, but mixed together. Your brain becomes overloaded and filters them out.
• Adaptation – If you spend all day in the same space, your brain “tunes out” familiar smells so you can focus on other tasks. That’s why you might not notice the scent of coffee at work, but it hits you instantly when you walk into a café.
• Attention pulled elsewhere – At work, your mind is busy juggling tasks, conversations, and focus. Sensory processing works like a volume dial, and in that moment, smell is turned right down.

Living With an On–Off Nose

This back-and-forth can be frustrating. At home, you may feel overwhelmed by how strong smells are, while at work, you might feel like your sense of smell has disappeared. Both are normal responses; your brain is simply filtering and prioritising in different ways.

For autistic or ADHD individuals, smell sensitivity can play a big role in daily life. It can be a gift (spotting danger, like something burning) but also a challenge (becoming distracted or nauseous by perfume, food, or cleaning products).

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Takeaway: Sensory processing is how we interact with our environment. Sometimes our brains amplify smells, sometimes they block them out, but either way, it’s our body’s way of helping us navigate the world. Understanding this helps us notice patterns, reduce overwhelm, and accept that our senses don’t always behave the same way from one place to another.