Need a reboot? Smell the coffee beans. Or... your skin.

The scent of coffee beans is said to be like a nasal makeup remover. By smelling the coffee beans, you allow your nose to continue inhaling scent after scent. But is that really true? Take a stroll to your nearest perfume shop. You'll notice small containers of coffee beans placed among the various perfumes. The salesperson might suggest taking a deep breath of coffee between sniffing one fragrance and another. Why would you do that? Olfactory fatigue Olfactory fatigue, or olfactory habituation, is a real phenomenon that requires some attention. Essentially, the olfactory glands located in the human nose begin to recognize odors after some time. Eventually, they stop notifying us of odors. We then think there's no smell around us. This is an example of sensory adaptation. The body desensitizes itself to stimuli to prevent nervous system overload. This allows it to respond to new, unusual stimuli. Magic coffee? Do coffee beans actually contain some magical molecular components that reset our palate, thereby extending our ability to perceive smells? Turns out, no! Dr. Alexis Grosofsky of the Department of Psychology at Beloit College has scientifically proven that coffee beans are no better at resetting our olfactory palate than lemon or air. Maybe you've always wondered what coffee beans do in a perfume shop. This myth has circulated for so long that it's now almost impossible to find a perfume shop without coffee cups. And unfortunately, they do nothing more than distract your psyche. Because biologically, we can smell scents and things for hours. And you feel what you smell So, is there anything that can cleanse our palates after olfactory fatigue? The answer might surprise you. Yes, there is. The best way to reset your scent trails is to smell your own skin. When necessary, perfume salespeople can sniff the crook of your elbow. The scent of your own skin is a great reference point. So leave the coffee beans alone and enjoy inhaling the aromas.