Retrain your sense of smell!

Losing your sense of smell and taste can be a frustrating and challenging experience. With the help of essential oils and a little patience, you can regain your sense of smell and taste and enjoy the delicious scents and flavors life has to offer once again.

There are many reasons why someone may experience a loss of these senses, including nasal congestion, certain viral infections, injury, and certain medications.

Hyposmia and anosmia are the scientific terms for loss of smell when it was lost during a viral infection or minor head trauma. 

I got a pretty bad case of Covid in 2021 and lost my sense of smell! Which, for an aromatherapist, is bad news. But constant training can help you get back to distinguishing patchouli and dark aged patchouli with ease! (Research on Covid-19 smell loss mitigation is limited and this is purely anecdotal.)

Smell Retraining Therapy was originally developed in 2009 by Dr. Thomas Hummel at the University of Dresden. Essential oils can help to stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose and awaken the senses. Try sniffing  eucalyptus, clove, lemon, and rose to help clear your nasal passages and stimulate your sense of smell. Take sniffs of each scent for 10 to 20 seconds at least once or twice a day. Do this for at least 3 months, alternating scents. Use these categories for different oil choices: floral, fruity, spicy, resinous.

While sniffing, it is important to stay focused on smelling and trying to remember what it's supposed to smell like, your memories and emotions associated with each scent, and the sensations each scent brings, like the tingles!

Retraining your nose  may take time and patience, but it's a fun and flavorful journey. So don't be afraid to experiment with different essential oils and enjoy the process of regaining your senses. Who knows, you may even discover a new favorite scent or flavor in the process!

Losing your sense of smell and taste can be frustrating, but with the help of essential oils, you can retrain your nose and taste buds and enjoy life's scents and flavors once again. So don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with it!