The process that gives rise to the olfactory nerve. This process pertains to the initial formation of a structure from unspecified parts. The olfactory nerve is a collection of sensory nerve rootlets that extend down from the olfactory bulb to the olfactory mucosa of the upper parts of the nasal cavity. This nerve conducts odor information to the brainstem. [ http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/go/references/0000021 GOC:jid GOC:dph GOC:dgh GOC:cls https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=bn%3A0838580343 ]