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Our olfactory ability can vary due to different conditions.

For example, our olfactory detection thresholds can change due to molecules with differing lengths of carbon chains.

A molecule with a longer carbon chain is easier to detect, and has a lower detection threshold.

Additionally, women generally have lower olfactory thresholds than men, and this effect is magnified during a woman ’ s ovulatory period.

Interestingly, we can sometimes experience a hallucination of smell, as in the case of phantosmia.