Why Does Your Home Smell Different When You Return After Travelling?

There is a peculiar moment that many travellers recognise. You unlock your front door after being away for several days and suddenly your home has a smell you do not remember. It might seem musty, stale, dusty or simply unfamiliar. Yet before leaving, you probably barely noticed any of it. The change is not necessarily because your home has developed a completely new smell. A large part of the experience comes from your nose and brain adapting to the familiar smells around you. Once you have been away, that sensory adaptation temporarily disappears.