Odor detection is the process by which organisms identify and differentiate various smells in their environment. This ability is crucial for survival, as it helps in locating food, avoiding predators, and finding mates. The sense of smell relies on specialized receptors in the nose that detect chemical compounds in the air, sending signals to the brain for interpretation. In humans, odor detection involves the olfactory system, which includes the olfactory bulb and related brain areas. Different species, such as dogs and cats, have a more developed sense of smell, allowing them to detect odors at much lower concentrations than humans can.