Lost your sense of smell and taste? Our step-by-step guide on smell training

AbScent founder Chrissi Kelly gives a step-by-step guide to smell training when you have lost your sense of taste and smell.
Smell training is actively sniffing the same four scents every day, spending around 20 seconds on each scent and really concentrating on what you’re doing. It’s that easy. It’s safe, it’s recommended by doctors, and anyone can do it.
For more on smell training: abscent.org/learn-us/smell-tr...
All material (C) 2022 AbScent
#smelltraining #lossoftaste #lossofsmell #covidsmellloss #longcovid #longcovidsymptoms #covid19symptoms

[@Tyles28]

It's so depressing. You don't realise how important the sense of smell is until you lose it 😔 a month post covid and still feeling fatigued and unable to smell etc

[@aymen-pc3fh]

updates?

[@radharajoli7675]

I have paraosmia since the past 3 weeks, it's been almost 2 months since I had covid, it's come to a point where I have to force my self to eat to keep my stomach satisfied . Iam so passionate about food and now I feel nauseous when I enter the kitchen, I even get bad smell from my own body . It's very intermittent, but I don't enjoy food the way I used too. If there is a similar group in India will anyone please let me know.

[@dyavaniprem]

How to overcome this I'm worried 😔

[@gangaraju7633]

Iam facing d same problem for last 2 months.....

[@feyrearcheron4906]

I've been getting these weird smells for the last couple of days, I'm not able to eat anything, everything smells foul! My parents were covid +ve as well but they didn't experience anything like this, I feel at a loss, it's just so foul, I want to eat but I just can't.. It's not just food, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, perfume... Everything smells gross.

[@Dignified245]

i have the same condition , it really sucks. I feel like a ghoul who can't eat food, might start drinking blood idk. Don't know if i got Covid or a zombie disease. Might die out of starvation , lets hope not tho

[@feyrearcheron4906]

Update: I'm fairly okay now, everything still smells and tastes a bit different, I can't smell some food at all but I don't get any bad smells anymore, it lasted for about 2 weeks for me, hope you guys get better as well ✌

[@judys6458]

Thank you, thank you! I've had this issue for over 15 year with no help.

[@luis9419]

Wait you had parmisa for 10 years !!!!!!

[@Aya26412]

I lost my sense of smell and taste about 7 years ago. For 5 years there was nothing and the suddenly I started getting strange smells. It gradually came back but last Feb I had bronchitis and then possibly COVID in March. Months after I smell cigarette smoke sometimes in house and no one else could smell. I will definitely be trying Smell training hopefully it will help.

[@Mandeee]

Wow, 5 years. Can't even imagine.

[@SoyiniBourne]

Wish u better

[@BigHushAffiliate]

Has it helped? I lost my sense of taste and smell 2 years ago and today I bought this kit.

[@Aya26412]

@@BigHushAffiliate it’s much better now and smell training does work, but I’m back to normal now. It’s awful I hope yours comes back soon.

[@melaniewolf7244]

LOVE THIS!

[@annelang514]

I am a nurse and had COVID at the start of November. Since then I've anosmia which seemed to morph into parosmia at the beginning of January.

[@UshioSorrows]

My Wife is having the same problem, she got COVID back on may/jun and to this date, her smell/taste is not 100%, she says it's about 40% and some things she used to eat taste different, for example coke, she says that it tastes like coriander, It's been so long I'm getting worried for her, I'm going to start buying her stuff with different smells to see it that helps, I wish you good luck!

[@nelty08]

When is the best time to commence your smell training, is it during covid infection and loss of sense of smell or should I wait until the active infection has finished?

[@daisypraveen3713]

I am also suffering with anosmia since ten years .Is this training helps me to get my sense back?

[@deltaromeosiera]

Halo chrissi about 2 months ago i was positive covid by pcr tested and for so i was experiencing anosmia for about three days and after that i felt that my smell can detect just a little bit of odour just like soap,alcohol and hand sanitizer until now..the one that maks me so confused is sometimes my smell capability seems better and for other case it backs to worst again or it can say just fluctuate ups and down..is it normal or something to worried about? For your info i've been doing smell training with eesentials oils such as clove,lemon,eucalyptus,peppermint and lavender for about one month..would like to see your opinion about my case,thank you before 🙏🙏

[@SusieD2011]

I lost my sense of smell and taste just over 10 months ago when hospitalised for 3 months with Covid and still suffer other Long Covid symptoms. I can barely taste anything, cannot distinguish garlic etc, some things taste intolerable and my taste is greatly altered - tragedy as I have an online Cookery Website and am an experimental cook. In addition, I feel as if I have a heavy head cold with constant disgusting smells of Diesel, cigarettes (I'm a non smoker), burning and dust - it is unrelenting and accompanied by constant headaches. I can sense faint smells of things through this horrible layer of phantom smell so am willing to try your smell training technique. I will be devastated if this never returns.

[@lukegale7812]

Hi Susie, Really sorry to hear of your situation when being involved in cooking. I was thinking how devastating this must be for people who cook professionally. How did you get on? I got covid 2 months ago and couldn't move from my bed for a week. Not as serious as yours, but i still can not taste ice cream at all. It tastes like smooth icey water.

[@ghosts288]

has your smell/taste returned now?

[@SusieD2011]

@@ghosts288 no return of smell and taste. I rest every day and have permanent bitter taste in my mouth that makes me repel things I used to love and 24/7 overwhelming smell of bonfires or diesel fumes!

[@AberdeenRedpath]

This is exactly what I've been experiencing now since Christmas of 2023. I had pneumonia., and I believe started from COVID.It's odd, I can't smell any of my perfumes or air wick, scented candles ect.... I do however smell cigarettes (no one smokes around me or in my house) I also smell like old dust or stale air or something. It's almost March 2024 and I may have 50% taste and smell back. I felt the need to comment because I've noticed the "cigarettes and burning smell" on other comments. I also suffer really bad headaches on a weekly basis, when before I rarely had them at all. I will give this a shot... I'm constantly cleaning with pine soll to get rid of smells that no one else can smell. Even outside!

[@colbyburt6047]

Do the smell kits from amazon with the little white tubes that look like little missles work as well as jars?

[@isionfire7845]

I wanna know how many people got their sene back ?

[@Skytall]

What about distorted scent?

[@danielladinardo8321]

Does anyone else find it hard to differentiate between Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Peppermint and Menthol essential oils?

[@jessl2163]

I haven’t been able to smell for 8 months now since I had mild Covid-19.

[@mrlepercon]

It's only been 3 days for me

[@mikoaryayenijad]

Do you get your smell back ? Update me please .

[@jessl2163]

@@mikoaryayenijad It’s come back a little but everything smells different. Not how things are supposed to smell. I still can’t smell strong smells at all.

[@raniadg5384]

​@@jessl2163 Same here Jess but it's only been 4 months for me , have you been doing any smell training ? Because I did at first. I started smelling and tasting a bit but then I stopped smelling again (since winter holidays started because with school and all , there's some kind of routine , so I also have a smelling routine which will do my smell training indirectly ) so now I can't smell again

[@jessl2163]

@@raniadg5384 hi, oh I’m sorry, it’s horrible isn’t it? I’ve not done any smell training, I’ve read up on it a little. What sorts of things were you using?

[@flaviotaffarel6378]

Does this lady cured her parosmia?

[@dougwestmoreland6904]

My wife has been smelling rotting putrid meat 24/7 since NOVEMBER, my heart breaks for her! GIVE US A SOLUTION! NOBODY HAS ANY ANSWERS!!!???!!! Is there no TREATMENT??? Why aren't scientist and doctors talking about working on a treatment! Absent - are you working on a solution? Do you have ANY encouraging update? Something to give these poor people any HOPE! My wife thinks this will last the rest of her life!

[@ilomiloaffs6004]

Hey use VapoRub in the tongue, yes, sounds weird and in the nose, the helps, hierbalife i think, i really don't remember the name of the drink but it is something like that, ecualipt

[@charlottebirgittethomsen4273]

Me to cant live like this Much Longer constant rodden smell in my nose 😥 its killing me

[@pontiacmadeg8]

@@ilomiloaffs6004like put it on my toungue??

[@danielladinardo8321]

The “Bunny Sniff” is a revelation !! I was deep inhaling before and would lose the scent quickly. The short sniffs really work! For me, the parosmia will be over when I regain my love for garlic an onions! may make a scent jar with those in it. Is that allowed?🥸

[@Romanesco18]

Hi Daniella, Were you able to regain your sense of smell at the end?

[@danielladinardo8321]

@@Romanesco18 yes , thank god! About 98% back to normal

[@Romanesco18]

@@danielladinardo8321 Oh wow, congratulations! Do you mind sharing about your experience ? I'm thinking of buying a smell training kit to try and cure parosmia. I can eat anything except for meat, onions and garlic. Those taste awful hah. How long have you been smell training?

[@halzion97]

@@danielladinardo8321 you lost you sense due COVID? I lost mine in an accident

[@dorothymoloney4796]

Does anyone have a link to buy Intranasal Vitamin A?

[@AJ-wv3sc]

Did you find it? I’m also trying to find it as well

[@soundboardIIIlol]

I really want to have that link too!!!!

[@therighthonsirdoug]

I lost mine back in March when I had Covid19. It has returned but things don't quite smell or taste the same. I don't have the petrol or rancid smells but it's as if smells have been dumbed down and elements of the smell have been removed. Eggs are quite different and are almost unpalatable and fish also is quite different, especially when raw, although when cooked it is still palatable. I struggle to taste the full range of flavour when eating previous favourites but I can still enjoy strong flavoured foods, especially things like curry. I'm going to try the smell training and I'll report back in a few weeks.

[@patrikl4678]

Hi Graeme - My story seems almost identical to yours. I wasn't able to get tested but must have had COVID back in March, what over flu etc makes you totally lose your sense of smell and taste? My taste/smell has definitely returned but only up to a point, most things just dont taste as strong as they used to and certain foods create a weird after-taste. Body odours are also different and have not returned, raw onions are particularly tough. I have been doing the smell training for several weeks but haven't yet noticed any real change. How are you getting on?

[@therighthonsirdoug]

@@patrikl4678I've only just started smell training so no real noticeable difference yet...one advantage is that I can't really smell farts any more!!

[@patrikl4678]

@@therighthonsirdoug Ok no worries thanks for responding anyway. Every cloud eh? :)

[@ronakbhadarka3328]

I have the same symptoms like you. At the start food tasted and smelled disgusting but now, after 7-8 months it's becoming more tolerable. It's not like the food tastes good, but it's tolerable. Did you find any improvement?

[@msmarshall3pt0]

How's it going?

[@leighhanley8358]

I’ve suffered with anosmia for almost two years now. Doctor told me to “find a hobby to fill the loss”. I’ve been resigned to the fact I’ll probably never get my sense of smell back. I’m only 26. Have I left it too long to start training?

[@wilfsonproductions]

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!

[@Toryb168]

What caused this ?

[@isionfire7845]

I have same problem i lost my snense of smell for 3 years now and am 27 . It’s really Sad to not enjoy Nature and surrounding my doctor told me there is nothing they Can do . It Sux

[@halzion97]

I lost my sense but not due yo COVID, but because I feel and I knocked my head. It's been almost two years and I dont know to do 😭😭😭

[@AbScentUK]

We're really sorry to hear this. This is often classed as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and we have others in our online network who have had the same experience. It's free to join and a very supportive environment. Join here: abscent-network.mn.co/ You may also wish to visit our specific page on our website on TBI: abscent.org/about-smell-loss/brain-injury

[@swatigaurav61]

Hi mam due to covid I lost my smell and now its 15 days , please help

[@jurezajc7964]

Hey man , same here. Any change ? I see u commented 3 weeks ago.

[@NA-df1tk]

its been two months for me:( i can taste but i cant smell

[@zajc1948]

@@NA-df1tk my smell and taste came back, but it's not the same anymore, it's getting better tho. Good luck 🤞

[@Ale-wz3cf]

It’s been 3 days for me and I smell rotten flesh it’s unbearable

[@mohammedmustafakamel6179]

@swati Gaurav update plz

[@Sciarru]

Is this training good for parosmia too or is there a better one focused on parosmia?

[@gomezselena3500]

Did you overcome parosmia now cause i am suffering with the same thing , please

[@Sciarru]

@@gomezselena3500 my friend, after almost 2 months in, it is WAY better now! It is not completely gone, but I have good hopes for the future and I feel confident again! I wish you the best of luck!

[@gomezselena3500]

@@Sciarru thank you, i wish you best luck too. I wish this frustrating symptom gets rid of us soon😔🙏

[@Sciarru]

@@gomezselena3500 the only advice I can give you is to be patient. And don't be scared if someday it seems to be worse than the day before, it's part of the healing process. It will be intermittent. Someday it will be bad and someday it will be better.

[@dianael.]

@@gomezselena3500 Mine has been almost 4 months, some people says 2 yrs or more. Lets Try to be as hopeful as possible and read the first comment, he gives good advice.

[@romangeneral23]

Someone help me please!!!!

[@daniellerodgers6493]

😢

[@romangeneral23]

@@daniellerodgers6493 Ive gotten an improvement. Are you too suffering?

[@daniellerodgers6493]

@@romangeneral23 yes. ☹️ it feels like I’m in hell. Also I’m hungry af. I’m glad yours has gotten better.

[@itsmeg4575]

@@daniellerodgers6493 start smell training it will help and improve ur taste and smell

[@anitapittman7978]

I can't eat or be around any kinds a food. It even water

[@iahmed1534]

Is there any man have the same or just girls?

[@daniellerodgers6493]

My bro had it for a couple weeks.

[@fnanfne]

That's too much work and a bit silly really. Is there no drug available to help with this? I can't eat my favourite foods anymore, even coffee!!!! FML