Does cold weather affect smell?

[maguffin]

I started smoking a pipe a year ago but only smoke 2-3 times a month so I'm still a newbie. I live in Minnesota where the deep winter weather has been hovering around 10 degrees F. The other day I went out the garage to smoke. I turned on a heater but still needed a jacket. It was an aromatic blend but I didn't get much flavor. Also, when I went back into the garage the next day I couldn't smell anything whereas I can usually sense a pleasant lingering odor for a day or two after a pipe session.
The next day some Boswell Northwoods arrived in the mail (which I am excited to try). When I opened the bag in our kitchen it gave off a strong odor, but when I took it out to the cold garage to pour it into a mason jar I couldn't smell it much. Is there something about cold temperatures that weakens the smell of tobacco? Or is something else going on?

 

[toobfreak]

I think there is. Cold air is denser and heavier. It traps in the flavor and aroma molecules. Do you smell much in a refrigerator or freezer? Or do you smell more when stuff is hot? Cooking? Also, I think the cold affects your nose. Dries it or makes it run. Either way, I think that stuffs up the smeller. And your pipe could be a factor as well. If you are going to smoke in the garage, I would recommend you get one of those electric heaters and warm the place up before you smoke and see if that doesn't make a difference. After all, you should be comfortable while enjoying your pipe for all you invest in it, you might even look at getting some sort of nice stuffed chair from the second-hand store to put it in the corner!

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

"Is there something about cold temperatures that weakens the smell of tobacco?"
99% of my smoking is outside, it was 8 degrees on the porch a couple days ago, doesn't affect anything I've noticed.
"Also, I think the cold affects your nose. Dries it or makes it run."
Mucus is like a wax, it's actually similar to sugar on a molecular level. You get a drip/run coming back in from shoveling because it's all warmed up. We expel it enough in the warm weather or don't notice any excess because it's more fluid then. Cold season is just build up from the temp dropping far as I'm concerned, purge them sinuses with some spicy black pepper tea and hot food. Enjoy your smoke, always.

 

[yaddy306]

Absolutely, cold weather affects smells, pipes included.
Colder air means fewer volatile chemicals (flavour compounds) from the pipe.

Cold air also reduces your ability to smell those chemicals. study

 

[yaddy306]

On a cold, crisp day, there are fewer smells to be smelled and our noses become less sensitive to smells.

 

[mortonbriar]

The port a potty on the worksite stinks all summer, once it is surrounded by snow the smell magically disappears! I also notice a change in the way the pipe tastes and smells, even getting out of the warm truck mid puff in winter I notice a change.
Isaac

 

[maguffin]

Thanks everyone for the kind replies. What you are saying makes sense. It's probably a combination of the colder air plus a bit of winter stuffiness in my nose.

 

[dottiewarden]

First hand experience tells me yes! All for the above mentioned reasons. When something stinks cold makes the odor more tolerable, when it warms up the stench is unbearable.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"When something stinks cold makes the odor more tolerable,"
That would explain why yellow snow is odourless then :rofl:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[papipeguy]

You bet it does. When I'm sitting in the garage and fart the smell always seems to settle nose high.

 

[shutterbugg]

Does cold weather affect smell?

Yep. I don't smell near as bad as when it's hot out.