I feel like I’ve become more sensitive to smells more recently.  I keep catching whiffs of things that have a stronger effect on how I feel, more so than ever before.  Usually it’s a sudden attraction or repulsion, depending on whether I like the scent, and for the most part I react to perfumed things and food.  Last night I kept waking up to the smell of my hair due to my new highlights.  A week ago, I got overwhelmed by the smell of the person sitting behind me in the airplane.  It isn’t so much that these smells are strong, but when enough wafts towards me, my nose overreacts and I feel slightly nauseous.  Meanwhile, I love to sniff my lotions before and after using them, and I always smell my food before taking a bite.  I can’t seem to get enough of those smells and it’s quite comforting and soothing to smell them.

Why are my olfactory glands working overtime these days?  They have taken charge of my perception and experience of the world.  I would think it would be due to some sort of hormonal change, but I can’t think of any trigger that would have caused it.  Perhaps this is just a normal part of growing up and all adults have a more sensitive palate.  I wish I knew how to control it more, so I wouldn’t get nauseated so easily, usually at night when I get hungry.  Or actually, maybe it’s my stomach that has gotten more sensitive and heightens the effect of the smells around me… I do find myself needing to eat more frequently and if I don’t, I start to feel a little unwell pretty quickly.  Hmm, now there’s a thought to consider!