Background: Orthonasal and retronasal olfaction are intimately connected. Still, they exhibit differences. The present study aimed to compare orthonasal and retronasal olfaction at both suprathreshold and threshold levels in a healthy population considering age. Material and methods: A total of 171 participants with subjective normal olfactory function were divided into 2 groups (Young = 98 participants, mean age = 25.8 ± 5.3 vs. Old = 73 participants, mean age = 68.3 ± 10.6) according to their age. Groups were compared in terms of orthonasal odor threshold and identification (Sniffin’ sticks test), retronasal odor threshold (Odor delivery container) and identification (Taste powder). Results: Both orthonasal and retronasal olfaction decreased with age, while retronasal odor identification tended to decline to a lesser degree than orthonasal olfaction. In addition, retronasal odor identification ability of those unaware of their olfactory loss (hyposmia and anosmia) was less affected than their orthonasal olfaction. Age correlated negatively with orthonasal and retronasal olfaction. Orthonasal and retronasal olfaction related to each other. Conclusion: In older individuals retronasal odor identification appears to be less affected than orthonasal odor identification. This may be partly due to differential changes at the level of the olfactory mucosa. The maintained retronasal olfactory function probably helps to maintain the pleasures of eating, contributing to the unawareness of the gradual age-related olfactory loss.