Why can you smell cheeses even if they are in clingfilm?

You can smell cheeses wrapped in clingfilm because the aroma compounds are volatile and can permeate through the plastic. Although clingfilm provides a barrier, it is not completely airtight, allowing some of these compounds to escape into the surrounding air. Additionally, strong-smelling cheeses have potent odors that can diffuse through small openings in the wrap. This is why the scent can often be detected even when the cheese is sealed.