# Why 2 nostrils?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-2-nostrils/60769>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 4, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-2-nostrils/60769 "2001-04-04T13:31:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-2-nostrils/60769/21 "2001-04-05T12:27:37Z")

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The only people who have 3 nostrils are Cartoon Italian Communists.

At least, according to Giovanni Guareschi. 🙂

If you don’t get the joke, read _“The Little World of Don Camilo”_.

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**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-2-nostrils/60769/22 "2001-04-05T12:30:53Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by saepiroth \*  
> \*\*the double nostril has an actual purpose… there is a small node that swells on alternating sides every few hours… it enhances the ability to smell, but it blocks airflow significantly.  
> so… one hole to breathe, one to smell. \*\*

Thank you, **saepiroth**!

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