Human odor exploration behavior is influenced by olfactory function and interest in the sense of smell

Olfaction plays an important role in social interaction. This study examined the influence of chemosensory and cognitive abilities on conscious odor sniffing behaviors in humans. Participants (N = 349) were surveyed using a questionnaire for the frequency of behaviors in terms of odor exploration from intrinsic and external sources. Chemosensory functions (e.g., odor identification, trigeminal sensitivity, taste functions, and nasal patency), self-reported olfactory function, and the subjective importance of olfaction were assessed. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrate a strong impact of olfactory importance on odor exploration behavior. Both female gender and chemosensory function (odor identification ability and trigeminal sensitivity) had a positive impact on odor exploration behavior from individuals' own body and from external sources. Moreover, participants with dysosmia compared to those with normosmia showed less frequent odor exploration behaviors, while their behaviors were partly predicted by nasal patency. In conclusion, conscious olfactory exploration behaviors reflect the interest in the sense of smell and is strongly modulated by chemosensory function. In turn, individuals with lower olfactory sensitivity invest less in olfactory explorations.