Are odors more apparent in a certain temperature range?

Question

It seems like during rush hour if my window in open in my office I can only smell exhaust from the cars outside when it is a little warmer inside where I am, but if it is down below 60 degrees f, (no heat lately) I can't smell it. Same with wet paint and other odors.

Is it because the temperature acts on the molecules in the air that stimulate the sense organ, or is the sense organ itself affected by the temperature change?

Answer 1

Smells are carried by molecules of whatever you are smelling. They are carried through the air to your nose, where they are analysed and your brain figures out what it is you are smelling.

The molecules of air are more active when it is warmer; hence, smells propagate faster through warm air than they do in cold air.

Also, more molecules tend to leave the object and float away when it is warmer, so the smell will be stronger.

Answer 2

Heat volatilizes many compounds that are solid or much denser at lower temperatures. Some examples are hydrocarbons found in asphalt and oil and grease that spills on the pavement, waxes and turpenes in plants.

I'm not sure about changes in the sense of smell with temperature. Its possible that our sense of smell changes, since the amount of moisture in the nasal passages changes with temperature. Maybe some chemicals are easier to detect if there is more or less moisture, or if maybe the density of the chemical is lower..

Answer 3

Heat rises and along with it, the smells of car exhaust and whatnot. also some smells are more prevalent with heat, such as garbage, or fish.

hope this helps.

Answer 4

The smell is probably intensified with the heat, but maybe you sometimes don't smell it due to sensory adaptation (you just get used to it).

Answer 5

Its Rush hour, more cars are polluting, cause they are just sitting there running their engines