If an individual expelled their intestinal gas in an enclosed space, that smell would seemingly fade away. Why is this so? I would think of 3 possible explanations:
- The gases dilute in the air. If that space were tightly enclosed and sufficiently small, that smell would persist.
- The odorous gases decompose upon contact with air or by exposure to light.
- The odor does not fade away but the sense of smell adapts to the constant concentration. If another individual sampled that specimen later, they would experience the original intensity.