Large nostrils count more than a big nose when it come to smelling power, said German scientists on Wednesday after completing a three-year-long study aimed at treating smelling disorders.

Researcher Julia Vent from the University of Cologne examined 95 noses of men between 25 and 58 over three years to learn more about the link between nostril size and odor sensitivity and surgical methods to alleviate disorders.

"We found the bigger the nostril, the better the smelling power," said University of Cologne spokesman Christoph Uhlhaas. "It is not just outer size that counts." The results also found the right nostril is often more sensitive than the left.