Olfactory discrimination

Olfactory discrimination is the ability of your brain to distinguish between different smells. When you inhale, odor molecules enter your nose and bind to specialized receptors in your olfactory system. Your brain then interprets these signals, allowing you to recognize and differentiate a wide variety of scents—such as citrus versus vanilla or flowers versus gasoline. This process involves complex neural pathways that analyze the unique combination of molecules, enabling you to identify odors accurately and perceive subtle differences in smell intensity, quality, or origin.