sense of non-scents

I walked into work this morning as usual, a bit sleepy eyed. I am normally one of the first ones to arrive at the office, so the place is usually empty, except for the two or three people who are insane enough to wake up before me. As I walked to my quad, I noticed something different. I couldn’t place it at first, then it hit me as I took off my coat.

There was a new scent in the air, one I had never smelt before.
“There’s a new employee starting work today,” my quadmate said to me. “Have you said hello to her yet?”
Ah, mystery solved. I thought it was a bit amusing – I don’t have the best sense of smell. I usually don’t smell things unless the thing is right under my nose or if the scent is pretty strong. Somehow though, I’ve noticed that whenever a new person starts at the office, I can notice whatever scent they’re carrying. Then after a while, I don’t notice the scent anymore, as if my nose had gotten used to it or got bored of it.

One woman wore a fragrance when she first started that I noticed every time we passed within a few feet of each other. It was a pleasant smell, however after a week…nothing. Couldn’t pick up whatever she wore. Maybe she stopped putting on perfume, but I think it is more likely my nose decided to stop working.

It’s not just the women, either. I remember the first week my quadmate started. He wore way too much cologne – it wasn’t just me that could sense him a mile away. I think at one point he even asked someone if he was wearing too much when that person commented on it. Luckily, he got the message and toned it down.

There was a former coworker who also liked to wear a lot of cologne. He had an excuse though, he was Italian after all. (I kid.) You know, the kind with a perpetual semi-tan and a tendency to visit the gym often enough.

It really is strange that I would notice someone’s scent before any other aspect of that person. Being a guy, I tend to be more visual (at least that’s the excuse I’m going to give). I myself don’t really wear cologne or other scent enhancing things. I can’t really smell what I’m wearing, so I often need to put on too much so I can smell myself. (That last sentence sounded weird for some reason.)

Sometimes I’m glad I don’t have a good sense of smell. Like when I’m doing surveys of buildings that for some reason or other have been unkempt. Other times I wish my nose wasn’t so crappy. I think I’d look silly though sniffing at people up close. Probably wouldn’t make many friends that way.

Sometimes, well a lot of times, I’ll bring a piece of food up to my nose and sniff it before I take a bite. This used to annoy my mom, but I think now she is amused by it. I don’t know, I’ve always thought that smell enhances taste.

I mean, perfume and cologne are meant to compliment and enhance sight, in a way. Hmm… if that is true, then I should probably start bathing in the stuff.