Ep. 35: Smell Bias: The Psychology of Why Everyone Stinks Worse Than You

Your Brain on Farts: The Psychology of Stank

Ever heard someone say, “Well, they act like their poop don’t stink”? Usually, that means someone thinks they’re better than everyone else. But what if I told you… scientifically speaking, they might be kinda right?

This week on Privy, we're getting nostril-deep into scent bias—why your own farts don't offend you, but someone else's can send you retching into the stratosphere.

The Great Stank Denial

Let’s be clear: everybody farts. You fart. I fart. Grandma farts. The Queen (RIP) farted. And while we all do it, we’re not all equally offended by it. Why? Because our brains are sneaky little stink filters.

Turns out, when your body feels a toot coming, it gives your brain a heads-up: “Brace for impact.” Your brain gets the memo and dials down your smell receptors to avoid an olfactory assault. It’s like noise-canceling headphones for your nose. Only, instead of jazz, it’s methane.

But if someone else drops a surprise beef bomb in your vicinity? No warning. No prep. No mercy.

Surprise! It’s a Butt Ghost

So when you’re just sitting there, vibing, and someone else's ghost of lunch past sneaks up your nasal passage like an unwelcome ninja, your brain doesn't have time to prep. And thus, you're hit with the full force of their gastrointestinal betrayal.

Science even confirms that your own gas and poop—due to their unique chemical makeup and your brain’s conditioning—literally smell less offensive to you than to others. It's not just in your head. Okay, it is in your head. But also in your nose. Which is also in your head.

Smells Like Bias

This isn’t just about poop and toots. It’s why you don't smell your house’s weird odor until you’ve been gone a week. Your brain’s gotten used to your brand of funk. You're basically nose-blind to yourself, but hyperaware of everyone else.

It’s the same reason someone’s over-enthusiastic Axe body spray smells like a chemical weapon to you, but to them, it's just “Smoky Midnight Regret.” They've bathed in it so often their brain just filters it out.

Hunter’s Anecdotes to Keep You Afloats: The Fart Heard Around the Youth Group

Naturally, this scientific revelation led to one of the most heinous acts ever witnessed at a Christian youth retreat. A poor soul named “Chester” fell asleep during a youth convention sleepover (rookie move). And another brave, foul-hearted attendee took the opportunity to lower his full bare cheeks directly over Chester’s face…

…and fired.

Chester woke up gagging. The surprise. The proximity. The betrayal. It was like watching a Pixar short called Gaslighted. And it was all because Chester didn’t get the warning. His brain couldn’t prepare. It was straight-up methane shock and awe.

The Takeaway?

Your poop does stink. But your brain does you the kindness of pretending it doesn’t. Other people’s? That’s full sensory warfare.

So next time you judge someone for wrinkling their nose after your little toot symphony, remember—it’s not that they’re sensitive. It’s that your brain loves you and theirs isn’t ready.

Also, don’t fart in your friend’s face while they’re sleeping. Unless it’s Chester. Kidding. Kind of.