Anosmic Aromas
Life with no sense of smell
By Sarah Kirsch, Contributing Writer
If you had to lose a sense, which would you lose?
As coronavirus cases began in the United States in 2020, anosmia cases also arose and got more attention (Najafloo et al., 2021). Anosmia, or the partial or permanent loss of smell, is a condition that affects about three percent of Americans (Quick Statistics About Taste and Smell, 2019). Many people that had anosmia from COVID-19 eventually regained their sense of smell after a few weeks or months. However, there is still a large population of Americans who have anosmia unrelated to COVID-19.
Sandeep Robert Datta, Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, said the following during a study about COVID-19 and anosmia: “Anosmia seems like a curious phenomenon, but it can be devastating for the small fraction of people in whom it’s persistent. It can have serious psychological consequences and could be a major public health problem if we have a growing population with permanent loss of smell” (Jiang, 2020).
The transition from smelling to permanent anosmia was slow and unnoticeable for me. I was in sixth or seventh grade when I lost it, but I wasn’t officially diagnosed with anosmia until months of other health issues and a multitude of tests at 15 years old. Before I realized it was gone, I would find myself inadvertently lying to my friends when they’d hold perfume or food to my nose. I would sniff, but no scent would fill my nostrils. I thought I made it up in my head or that my nose was simply clogged. It frustrated me endlessly, but I eventually got used to it. As concerning as it was, I spent several years without really noticing it was gone.
After my mother and I initially emailed my doctor about my problem, I was required to have a CT scan and a “smell test.” The test was five small booklets of scratch-off senses and four choices to choose from. I always thought it was useless; I couldn’t smell anything. I sniffed, but nothing was there. I looked at my mother, scratched off a scent with a coin, sniffed nothingness, filled in a random bubble and let my mom smell it. Some scents, like peppermint or smoke, I could distantly taste with my mouth, but my nose stayed helpless.
When my CT scan results came back, my doctor made his explanation short and sweet. “There are no olfactory nerves in your brain at all,” he said. There was no explanation why or how they disappeared. Olfactory nerves are special sensory nerves for the sense of smell (Moini and Piran, 2020). My doctor mentioned a trial being run on older adults that lost their sense of smell to try to regain it, but the test realistically wouldn’t work on me. The trial, which consisted of regularly smelling different scent capsules, only worked for people with the right nerves. To put it simply, I would never smell again.
The reactions of my friends and classmates were mixed. There was slight concern initially, but most of my peers thought it was funnier or more beneficial than problematic. They were right, to an extent. My anosmia hid any bad smells around me: spoiled food, other people’s questionable hygiene, garbage. I never had to smell bad aromas again. I found it humorous when my friends would accidentally hold perfume to my nose and freak out when they realized their mistake.
As great as avoiding bad smells may be, anosmia has various negative effects. Smell is closely tied to taste, and anosmia can lead to a decrease of taste and potential poor nutrition (Healthwise Staff, 2020). As someone that played sports and enjoyed eating in my childhood, it’s been difficult to eat consistently and find meals fulfilling or appealing. Without smell, food tastes bland to me. Anosmia also affects mood; it can cause depression from the lack of aromas (Healthwise Staff, 2020). Combining a skewed taste and a worse mood can cause general unhappiness and discomfort, especially surrounding food.
Another major effect of anosmia is the potential danger it causes. Without an up-to-date alarm system, I wouldn’t be able to smell a gas leak, smoke or other hazards. When my family moved into a new house last summer, I wasn’t allowed to use the gas stove if I was alone in the house because of the slim chance something could go wrong. Although it hasn’t been a problem for me yet, many people with anosmia are anxious about living alone.
For me, the worst part of anosmia has been remembering I used to be able to smell but not recall any of the scents. I used to know what fresh air, coffee and perfume smelled like. Without scents, my memory of my childhood feels blurred, like it’s missing a puzzle piece. The scents I previously knew are now just labels on a bottle, telling me what other people smell.
Despite the various setbacks, I’ve learned how to live with anosmia for over six years. The condition, called a sensory disability by some, and the awareness surrounding it is constantly growing and affecting everyday lives. (Anosmia as a Disability, 2003) My lack of smell has become so regular that I barely even notice it anymore. Throughout high school, my sister would smell milk for me to make sure it wasn’t sour. My current roommate graciously smells clothes or food when I ask her to. Smell or anosmia, I have an incredibly kind support system around me.
Although the cases of anosmia rose with COVID-19, there isn’t much research for cures actively happening. One example of a group researching anosmia is the Monell Smell for Life Project. Funded primarily by donations, Smell for Life seeks to understand anosmia better, evaluate the role of smell in everyday life and help make a path for treatments (Smell for Life, n.d.). With projects like Smell for Life, researchers can search for cures for anosmia.
Through growing awareness, continuous support and active research, those with anosmia can live happy and healthy lives. Although the condition definitely has setbacks, it introduced me to a kind community of others with anosmia. Not only have I met people that understand what I live with, but I’ve had the privilege of learning about different kinds of anosmia and the struggles that accompany them. In a world where aromas are quiet yet powerful, those with anosmia find their own way to live.
Sources:
Najafloo, R. (2021, October 5). Mechanism of Anosmia Caused by Symptoms of COVID-19 and Emerging Treatments. ACS Publications.
Quick Statistics About Taste and Smell. (2019, February 27). NIDCD.
Jiang, K. (2020, July 24). How COVID-19 Causes Loss of Smell | Harvard Medical School. Harvard Medical School.
Moini, J., & Piran, P. (2020). Functional and Clinical Neuroanatomy: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Elsevier Science.
Healthwise Staff. (2020, December 2). Anosmia. University of Michigan Health,
Anosmia as a Disability. (2003). Anosmia Foundation.
Smell for Life. (n.d.). Monell Chemical Senses Center.