People perceive the same perfumes differently due to a combination of genetic, physiological, and environmental factors. Key factors include individual differences in odor receptor sensitivity, personal olfactory memories (associating scents with past experiences), and variations in how a scent interacts with the specific environment—such as room temperature, humidity, and the existing odor profile of a space.
Here are the main reasons for these variations:
Biological & Genetic Differences: Genetics dictate how sensitive our olfactory receptors are to specific molecules, making certain notes more or less detectable to different people.
Olfactory Memory & Perception: Past experiences shape how we interpret scents. A scent associated with a happy memory will be perceived differently (and more pleasantly) than the same scent associated with a negative one.
Environmental Factors: The room's temperature and humidity affect how quickly fragrance molecules evaporate. Warmer environments (e.g., using a warmer for a wax melt) intensify scent projection, while cooler rooms might make the scent subtler or slower to develop.
Background Odors (Ambient Scent): A perfume mixes with the existing smell of a home (e.g., cooking, pets, cleaning products, or construction materials).
Adaptation (Nose Blindness): People become accustomed to the smells in their own homes. This phenomenon, known as olfactory fatigue, means the residents may not smell a scent that seems very strong to a visitor.
In short, a fragrance is rarely experienced in a vacuum; it is filtered through the brain's unique memory database and interacts with the specific air quality of the space, creating a subjective experience for everyone.