Do children have a better sense of smell than adults?

Do children have a better sense of smell than adults?

Breathe it in while you can. Our ability to smell gets better before it gets worse.

Luis Villazon

Asked by: Tim Harrison, Sutton

Newborns can only smell a few different things, such as their mother’s body smell. Sense of smell improves up to about the age of eight. But from the age of 20 (or even 15, according to some studies), the sense gently declines. Yet some studies have found that children can’t detect certain musk odours until they reach puberty.

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Luis Villazon

Q&A expert

Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
Do children have a better sense of smell than adults? © Getty Images

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