Can you smell airborne mold spores?

Mold growth is known to produce a musty and very recognizable odor, but does not always do so. When you smell mold, that odor is more likely associated with the microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC’s) than with the spore itself.  The smell of mold is usually an indication of mold reservoirs in the home, but the lack of a smell is not an indicator that mold growth is not present.