The olfactory nerve is the first cranial nerve responsible for the sense of smell. It transmits sensory information from the nasal cavity to the brain, allowing us to detect and identify different odors. This nerve consists of sensory nerve fibers that originate in the olfactory epithelium, a specialized tissue located in the upper part of the nasal cavity. When we inhale, odor molecules bind to receptors in the olfactory epithelium, triggering signals that travel along the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb in the brain. From there, the information is processed and sent to other areas, including the limbic system, which is involved in emotions and memory, linking smells to feelings and experiences.