Can a cologne possibly smell different when applied in another state?

May 4, 2016 11:44 AM

Just before a trip to Seattle, my girlfriend went online and bought me a new bottle of the cologne I use. When I sprayed it on in Seattle, it smelled really different than it normally does and didn't seem to last long at all. But now that we're back in Denver, it smells fine, just like it always has. It it possible the elevation or some other factor made that much of a difference in how the stuff smells?

In Seattle, it smelled really different than it normally does -- much more citrusy and "light" -- and didn't seem to last long at all. To the point where we thought she must have a bought a knock-off and she needed to dispute the purchase. But now that we're back in Denver, it smells fine, just like it always has. It it possible the elevation or some other factor made that much of a difference in how the stuff smells?

posted by Clustercuss to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (8 answers total)

The water is different. How about soap/shampoos? Did you use your normal stuff or the stuff at the hotel/place you were staying?
posted by Beti at 11:47 AM on May 4, 2016

Possibly a difference between soft and hard water?
posted by Fleebnork at 11:49 AM on May 4, 2016

Maybe you were congested in Seattle?
posted by amro at 11:50 AM on May 4, 2016

Best answer: I would guess this has to do with the humidity, which could affect all sorts of things--how your nose works (congestion), how you perceive smells, possibly even how rapidly the volatile components of the perfume evaporate. Denver can be very dry.
posted by pullayup at 11:58 AM on May 4, 2016 [3 favorites]

Altitude absolutely affects the way we perceive smell and taste.
posted by phunniemee at 12:03 PM on May 4, 2016

Best answer: Yup, I think the combination of altitude and humidity is what's causing the difference. If you want to do some interesting reading on that front, I've seen a number of pieces on how difficult it is to make airline food taste good, since in an airliner you're dealing with the same issues - low humidity and high altitude.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:10 PM on May 4, 2016 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: So interesting, thanks! I have traveled other places with the same scent and never noticed such a difference before.
posted by Clustercuss at 12:14 PM on May 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

If it was a brand new bottle, is it possible the formula had separated or something, the first couple of pumps cleared it out, and now you're getting the "real" formula again? That would make the location thing a red herring.
posted by snap, crackle and pop at 7:08 PM on May 4, 2016