Edit Article

Three Methods:Stimulating the Sneeze MusclesUsing Sneeze-Inducing SubstancesTricking Your Nose Into SneezingQuestions and Answers

Do you ever feel a sneeze coming on, but it just lingers at the tip of your nose? Maybe you want to get a sneeze out of your system before you give a talk, attend a meeting, eat a meal or greet your date. Since sneezing is a natural reaction, it can be triggered by providing the right stimulus. You might have to do a little experimenting since sneezing triggers are as individual as ticklish spots.


Method 1
Stimulating the Sneeze Muscles

  1. 1
    Poke your nose. Since the purpose of sneezing is to rid your body of foreign substances in your nose, you can trick it into sneezing. You could try a pencil
    • Grab a tissue and roll up the corner to a small point. Put the point into your nostril, then turn and wiggle the tissue - it should tickle a bit.
    • Continue tickling your nose and you should eventually sneeze. Humming might help things along by creating additional vibrations.
  2. 2
    Pluck your eyebrows. The eyelid muscles that close your eyes are part of the network of nerves activated during a sneeze.[1]
    • Therefore, stimulating these muscles by plucking hairs can make your trigeminal nerve more sensitive, possibly triggering a sneeze.[2]
    • If you don't want to pluck any hairs, try lightly scratching near your eyebrows instead. This can help to trigger the same muscles as tweezing.
  3. 3
    Pull a nose hair. Just like plucking an eyebrow hair, plucking a nose hair can immediately trigger a sneeze reflex.
    • Take a tweezers and grab hold of a single hair inside your nose -- plucking a bunch of hairs at once is overkill and will really hurt!
    • Pull the hair out with a sharp jerk and make sure you have a tissue easily at hand, as the sneeze will hit quickly.
  4. 4
    Massage the bridge of your nose. Hold a massager against the bridge of your nose and gently rub it back and forth.
    • This can create an intense tickling sensation that makes some people sneeze.
    • Once you feel the sneeze starting to form, look at a bright light or use one of the other sneeze-inducing techniques.
  5. 5
    Tickle the roof of your mouth. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth then slide it backwards until the hard part of the roof disappears.
    • Using the tip of your tongue, flick the soft tissue at the back of your mouth.
    • This can help to stimulate a sneeze reflex.

Method 2
Using Sneeze-Inducing Substances

  1. 1
    Sniff some spices. Take a whiff of ground pepper, cumin, coriander or other seasonings.
    • Pour some out onto a piece of paper or surface. Grind it further with a mortar and pestle if you can.
    • Place a few layers of cheesecloth (or any other fine filter that won't let any pepper through) over the pepper, put your nose near it, and inhale softly.
    • Keep in mind that if some large pieces of ground pepper get through the cheesecloth and into your nose, it's probably going to burn, so keep a tissue nearby so you can blow your nose.
  2. 2
    Use sneezing powder. Sneezing powder is usually made from a combination of spices and can be found at quirky gift shops or online.
    • Make sure to read the instructions on the packaging before using, and avoid purchasing sneezing powders that contain "veratrum album" alkaloids, as this have been linked to poisoning.[3]
    • If you like, you can make your on sneezing powder at home -- find more detailed instructions in this article.
  3. 3
    Take a deep breath of cold air. Another good way to trigger your sneeze reflex is to take a deep breathe of cold air.
    • If you're inside and it's quite chilly outside, try stepping out and suddenly inhaling the cold air. If it's not cold enough inside, try sticking your head in the freezer instead!
    • Another way to do this is to take a hot shower, then stick your head out quickly and take a deep breath of cool air.[4]
  4. 4
    Snort some water. Although it's not the most pleasant prospect in the world, getting water up your nose is highly effective at inducing a sneezing fit.
    • Take a cup of warm water and dip the tip of your nose inside, then gently inhale. Don't try to snort the whole cup of water at once!
    • Once the water hits your nose, you should find yourself sneezing at least two or three times!
  5. 5
    Chew strong mint gum. For some people, the sudden influx of strong flavor from minty gum can bring on a sneeze.
    • For others, Altoids-brand mints and even strong mint-flavored toothpaste can induce a sneezing fit.
  6. 6
    Drink or smell fizzy drinks. Some people claim that fizzy drinks help them to sneeze.
    • Try drinking a fizzy drink -- lemonade, cola, ginger ale -- to see if that works, or else just hold the bubbling drink under your nose and inhale. This method won't work with flat drinks that have been open for a while!
    • The strong taste and smell will make your nose feel funny and sometimes cause you to sneeze.

Method 3
Tricking Your Nose Into Sneezing

  1. 1
    Look suddenly at a very bright light. 17% to 35% of people are "sun sneezers" who have genetically inherited the photic sneeze reflex.[5] For these people, looking at a bright light is enough to make them sneeze.
    • To find out if you are one of these people, try limiting your exposure to light and closing your eyes. After your eyes have acclimated to the darkness, open your eyes and swiftly turn on a bright light.
    • You can do this by walking into a bright room, looking at a bright spot outside (but not directly at the sun, which can damage your eyes), or looking directly at a light bulb. If you have the photic sneeze reflex, you'll probably sneeze, and probably several times consecutively.
    • Why does this happen? The trigeminal nerve, which controls sneezing, happens to run right alongside the optic nerve. In some people, over stimulation of the optic nerve "rubs off" on the trigeminal nerve (in the same way that data cables can "crosstalk") and the body mistakenly responds by sneezing.
  2. 2
    Touch a cold surface. Some people claim that touching a cold surface is enough to make them sneeze. While there's no scientific evidence to support this, it certainly doesn't hurt to try!
    • Place your hand on a relatively cold surface, like metal or stone, or a window. Move your hand on and off the surface a few times.
    • If you're lucky, the sensation will trigger a sneeze.
  3. 3
    Try to "fake sneeze". Sometimes pretending to sneeze is enough to bring on an actual sneeze.
    • This happens because the fake sneeze triggers some of the muscles involved in an actual sneeze.
    • You might feel a little silly doing this, but it's surprisingly effective!
  4. 4
    Tilt your head back. If you can already feel a sneeze coming on, but it's just not happening fast enough, try tilting your head back. Sometimes this simple move alone will trigger the sneeze.

Questions and Answers

  • Why don't these work when you have a sinus infection?
    • If your nose is completely blocked, decongestants will be more effective than trying to sneeze. If you've developed a chronic inability to sneeze, visit an ear nose and throat specialist to cure those sniffhangers.
  • The bright light method worked, but all the rest just made my nose hurt terribly. Why?
    • Researchers have found the gene responsible for bright light sneezing, but they're still not sure exactly how it creates this reflex. It probably has to do with the signal to your nervous system, which may be less irritating than direct stimulation of your nose.
Don't see your question? Ask it here:


  • Breathe slowly through your nose. This could increase the chance of you sneezing..
  • Tickle your nose with a feather.
  • Vibrate your upper lip by making a low sound whilst blowing out of your mouth. Note, you should try to close your lips together and only let a little bit of air out. Blow hard enough, and this will vibrate your nose and definitely make you sneeze. I use this all the time in the morning to clear my nose.
  • If you're having trouble, try to make the noise that an elephant makes. Sounds weird but it works.
  • Start rapidly fake-sneezing to trigger a real sneeze and eventually sneeze. Then, If you listen to all the instructions, you will be into a massive sneezing fit and sneeze for 20 minutes, 16 sneezes a minute (You may want to record yourself).
  • Have a tissue handy so that you can sneeze into it. Wash your hands as soon as possible. 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.[6]
  • Vibrate the bridge of your nose.
  • Wiggle your nose.
  • Don't sniff pepper. It can seriously sting and can have no effect on many people, unlike the other methods.
  • Smelling dust is an effective way to induce sneezing.
  • Start hyperventilating, then quickly go up to a flower and inhale softly.


  • Using a hairpin or other small sharp instrument to stimulate your nose hairs can be dangerous. You could poke the top of your nose with it when you sneeze and also it could have lots of bacteria on it that your nose is unable to cope with. Remember, your nose is an opening to the inside of your body, don't tempt germs.
  • The inside of the nose is a breeding ground for MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). If you break the skin inside your nose you risk something leading to the possibility of a skin-eating bacteria or an out-of-control virus.

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Nasal and Sinus Care

In other languages:

Español: estornudar, Português: se Fazer Espirrar, Italiano: Forzare uno Starnuto, Deutsch: Sich selbst zum Niesen bringen, Français: se faire éternuer, Русский: заставить себя чихнуть, 中文: 打喷嚏, Nederlands: Zo kun je jezelf laten niezen, Čeština: Jak si kýchnout, Bahasa Indonesia: Membuat Diri Sendiri Bersin, العربية: إجبار نفسك على العطس

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,191,627 times.

Did this article help you?