NW LA Times

The nose plays an important role in human relationships and even in romantic relationships. In particular a person's sense of smell can be very important to developing a relationship. Certain organs in the nose greatly improve a human's senses. 

The olfactory system triggers memories for people and the nose plays a vital role when coupled with the olfactory system in human being's perception of sex.

“It’s amazing how many of our body functions are directed toward sexual activity and reproduction,” Dr. Michael Benninger, a nose and throat specialist, said. 

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is an important way that people record these kinds of potentially erotic smells. It is sometimes referred to as a sixth sense for humans. 

“In humans, the VNO is largely vestigial or non-functional, acting as an old remnant like your appendix," Benninger said. "But some researchers believe that it still plays a role in pheromone and other chemical communication.”

The characteristic smell of a person’s perfume, cologne or the scent of someone's shampoo or soap is a key part in human sexual arousal. The smell of a person's perspiration also has a direct impact on the sexual receptors of the human brain. In a similar vein the loss of smell correlates with a decrease in a person's sex drive.

Another fascinating and hotly debated area is the impact of pheromones. Pheromones are very central to reproduction in animals, as well as on human sexuality and arousal. The human nose is also believed by experts to contain a person's breath, another important factor. 

Overall, smell is an important way in which humans remember other people they have met, which is central to forming relationships in the first place. Other important functions of the nose are to shape a person's voice, clean the air a person breathes, change the temperature of a person's breath and humidify the air that one is breathing. 

To make sure your nose is functioning properly, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.