How to Make Yourself Sneeze

Medically reviewed by Shari Forschen, NP, MA

Last Updated: December 16, 2024 References

Do you ever feel a sneeze coming on, but it just lingers in your nostrils, causing you to squirm with discomfort? Or maybe you need to get a sneeze out of your system before you give a talk, attend a meeting, eat a meal, or greet your date. Whatever your reason, there are several different ways that you can make yourself sneeze.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Your Sense of Smell to Trigger a Sneeze

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1
Smell some spices. Smelling certain spices can cause you to sneeze. Try searching your cupboard for a bottle of spices, such as ground black pepper, cumin, coriander, or crushed red pepper. You can open the bottle and sniff the spices or use them in your cooking and inhale through your nose as you add them.^{[1]
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- Grinding the spices can also cause you to sneeze. Try grinding a few peppercorns with a mortar and pestle to bring on a sneeze.
2
Sniff a bit of capsicum extract. Capsicum is naturally derived from hot peppers, and is used in both medication and pepper spray. Be careful of the amount you put on the swab. You can purchase a bottle of some capsicum extract or look for a product that contains it already. Don’t apply the extract to the inside of your nose because it will burn. Instead, dab a cotton swab against the top of a capsicum extract bottle and hold the cotton swab in front of your nose. Inhale the scent of the capsicum through your nose.^{[2]
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- If you do not have capsicum extract, then you can also cut open a hot pepper, such as a jalapeno or chili, and dab the inside of it with a cotton swab. Then, inhale the scent of the capsicum through your nose.
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3
Sniff a fizzy drink. Sniffing a carbonated beverage, especially from a soda fountain, may be all the stimulation your nose needs to let loose a sneeze. Simply drinking a carbonated beverage may work, but you can also hold the cup right under your nose and inhale through your nose.^{[3]
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Research source} This should cause you to sneeze.
- Make sure that the soda is really fizzy. If it is flat, then there might not be enough bubbles to bring on a sneeze.
4
Open a stick of peppermint gum. Some people sneeze from smelling peppermint. If you have some mints or peppermint gum around, then try popping one in your mouth. Inhale the scent as you enjoy the gum or mint and it may cause you to sneeze.^{[4]
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- You can also try sniffing a bottle of peppermint essential oil if you have some. Just open the bottle and inhale the scent of the oil through your nose.
- Sniffing mint toothpaste may also work. Just open the cap of your toothpaste and inhale the scent through your nose.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Triggering Your Sneeze Reflex with Other Sensations

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1
Tickle your nostrils. You can trick your nose’s defense mechanisms and trigger a sneeze by gently agitating the inside of your nostrils. The inside of your nose is extremely sensitive to irritation, so you can use a tissue to brush your nostril hairs and this may induce a sneeze.^{[5]
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- Roll the corner of a tissue into a small point. Put the point into your nostril, then turn and wiggle the tissue it should tickle a bit.
- Similarly, use a fake feather to brush the underside of your nose. You don’t even have to stick the feather in your nose to irritate it. Tickling the outside of your nose will probably make you sneeze.
- Don’t stick anything, even a tissue, into your nose any further than the inside edges of your nostrils.
- Never use a hairpin or other small sharp instrument to stimulate your nose hairs.
2
Try plucking out an eyebrow hair.^{[6]
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Research source} Some people will sneeze reflexively just from plucking out an eyebrow hair. To see if this will cause you to sneeze, get out a pair of tweezers and use them to pluck out a single eyebrow hair. This may be enough to bring on a sneeze.
- Grasp the eyebrow hair near its root with the tips of the tweezers and pull the hair out quickly.
3
Look suddenly at a bright light. Up to a third of people have a built in “photic sneeze reflex.” If you have this reflex, then you’ll probably sneeze if you suddenly see a bright light. To find out if you are one of these people, turn off the lights and sit in the dark for a few minutes. After waiting a few minutes to allow your eyes to acclimate to the darkness, look up at the light and turn it on.^{[7]
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- You can also close your eyes tightly while standing in direct sunlight. Block the sunlight with your hand as well. After a minute or two, remove your hand and open your eyes. Doing this may cause you to sneeze.
- This works because the trigeminal nerve, which controls sneezing, runs right alongside the optic nerve. The over stimulation of the trigeminal nerve may cause you to sneeze.
- Never look directly at the sun, as this can quickly damage your eyes.
4
Take a deep breath of cold air.^{[8]
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Research source} Another good way to trigger your sneeze reflex is to take a deep breath of cold air. For instance, if you're inside and it's significantly colder outside, try stepping out and suddenly inhaling the cold air.
- If it's not cold enough outside, try opening your freezer and leaning your face into the cold air for a few seconds.
- Another way to do this is to take a hot shower, then stick your head out quickly and take a deep breath of cooler air.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is there a muscle you flex to do it?

Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Family Nurse Practitioner
Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.

Shari Forschen, NP, MA

Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

You cannot control sneezing with a muscle - sneezing is an involuntary reflex.

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Question

I've sneezing problem from last few days. I can feel it but can't sneeze, that's so annoying . Remedy please

Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Family Nurse Practitioner
Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.

Shari Forschen, NP, MA

Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Most likely your sneezing is a symptom of irritation or allergy. Clean your environment and take away triggers.

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Question

Why do I close my eyes when I sneeze?

Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Family Nurse Practitioner
Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.

Shari Forschen, NP, MA

Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

It is an involuntary reflex. It is not possible to sneeze without closing your eyes.

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Tips

Get away from allergens and irritants. Being exposed to allergens and irritants, such as dust mold, chemicals, and smoke can cause you to feel like you have to sneeze. If you are in an environment with lots of allergens or irritants, then do something to eliminate or reduce these substances.

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Have a tissue handy so that you can sneeze into it. Wash your hands as soon as possible after sneezing. If you don't have a tissue and can't wash your hands immediately, sneeze into your elbow or sleeve so that you don't spread any germs with your hands.

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Do not allow people to smoke in your home. Request that they go outside and try to keep your distance if you are around people who are smoking.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Silly as it may look, hold your arm up and shake your arm and upper torso. This little jiggle dance helps me. Also, breathing a bit more rapidly helps to move the diaphragm muscles involved in the sneeze.
Don't stick your finger up your nose, but gently move your finger along the nose hairs at the end of your nose so you don't look like you are picking your nose. You should sneeze eventually.
Softly place your finger tips under your nostrils, then try humming at different frequencies. The vibrations will carry to your nose triggering that sneeze.
Slightly press your nose up to a very warm surface. I usually use my computer vent. Just try not to sneeze on it if it's an electronic device.
You can also use a Q-tip to tickle the inside of your nose. Just be sure to remove it before the sneeze comes to avoid injury.
Try using a vibrating toothbrush. If you're not used to the vibrations, it'll shake your nose enough to make you sneeze.

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Warnings

Avoid “sneezing powder.” Once commonly sold in toy stores as a gag item, sneezing powders often include unsafe ingredients. One type of ingredient in particular veratrum album alkaloids have been deemed to be unsafe. While these items are still available online, do not allow yourself or others to use them.^{[9]
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