Yes, this one’s genuinely true. It’s called olfactory adaptation, and it happens because your brain filters out constant, unchanging smells so it can stay alert to new ones, which is exactly what your own perfume becomes after wearing it for a while.

Why this happens

Your nose is constantly working out what’s new and worth paying attention to versus what’s background noise, and a scent you’re exposed to continuously, your own perfume, your home, even your own skin, quickly gets filed as background. This isn’t a flaw in your sense of smell, it’s a completely normal and useful adaptation that stops your brain being overwhelmed by every smell around you all day. Other people, who aren’t constantly exposed to your specific scent, will still smell it clearly even when you genuinely can’t.

What this means practically

It’s exactly why over-application happens so often, people who can’t smell their own perfume anymore assume it’s faded and add more, when everyone around them can still smell the first application perfectly well. If you’re unsure, ask someone else rather than trusting your own nose, or stick to a couple of sprays as a habit regardless of what you can or can’t smell yourself. Our perfume myths guide and complete guide to perfume cover more about how perception works.