I've thought that you are only breathing through one hole of your nose? Is there still some minor airflow through the other hole to enable stereo olfaction?
If it changes sides over time, and there is minor airflow through the slower side, then yes, that's apparently normal.
If it doesn't change sides over time, or if airflow remains completely blocked through the non-open side throughout every day, look into it further.
(This is not a complete ENT diagnosis flowchart and is not a substitute for an ENT consultation, but has enough detail to survive the basic hypochondria issues of reading Internet medical articles.)
Presumably breathing has no effect on the diffusion of odors from far away to the immediate vicinity of the nostrils. So, diffusion can also take odors from the temporarily-inactive nostril deeper into the sinus.
I think that's a reference to the nasal cycle[1]. I notice it pretty commonly when sleeping, but during waking hours, esp. if I am exercising, both nostrils seem to be unblocked.
Haha good article. I always smell things before I eat them by default. One interesting thing I noticed is how much smell boosts taste. Some time ago I lost my sense of smell completely and I distinctly remember how the food tastes boring and plain with just texture and sweet and salt making any difference. Smell adds so much to it that I was honestly surprised.
Yes, surely this must be the main use for human smell, to evaluate the safety of food. I remember being laughed at in my youth because I would always sniff a drink before drinking it (these were in my university days so a lot of odd concotions were imbibed). Seemed to me that it gave some very crucial information about what you were to expect!
My father-in-law was a produce inspector for 40+ years. He said that after a while, all he ever did was smell it. He could be walking up to the truck or rail car from across the parking lot and know if it was good or bad.
