Can’t Smell or Taste? Here’s What to Do.

Many of our posts talk about awesome ways to caress the senses with lovely colors, music and scents. However, it’s almost impossible to appreciate the benefits of these sensual stimulants if you have no perception of them.

This post is for our goddesses who can’t smell or taste. First a small definition: Your sense of taste is located on your tongue. Tastes include salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami*. Flavors are what allow us to differentiate one food from another such as a lemon from a lime. When you say can’t smell or taste, you probably mean you can’t smell or know the flavor of foods.

*Umami is a Japanese word loosely translated into “delicious.” It comes from a receptor on your tongue that is responsive to organic compounds like glutamate like that found in meat and in MSG flavor.

Why you can’t smell or taste

There are a variety of reasons including:

  • Injury to your head
  • Medications
  • Sinus problems including allergies
  • Respiratory infections
  • Smoking
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Chemical exposure
  • Dental problems
  • Nasal polyps and tumors
  • Brain tumors
  • Depression – Studies indicate the cause is an autoimmune response
  • Age – Usually associated with a diminished sense of smell and flavor.
  • Diabetes
  • Genetics

Here’s what to do when you can’t smell or taste

Step 1

    • The first thing to do is figure out, if you can, why you are suffering from anosmia (loss of smell). Sometimes it will be obvious sometimes not so much.
    • If you get a cold or suffer from nasal allergies, you may well lose your sense of smell or taste until the cold goes away or the allergy situation is resolved. Also, just as a word of warning, you can permanently lose or diminish your sense of smell and taste (flavor) with persistent nasal infections.



  • If you fall down and bump your head. You may lose your sense of smell. How long before you get it back is determined by the extent of nerve damage.
  • If you smoke and notice the roses don’t have near the aroma they used to, in addition to the many other reasons, you may want to quit.
  • If you’re on a medication, check with your doctor to see if that might be the problem.
  • If you find the scent of your perfume isn’t as intense as it once was or food doesn’t taste quite the same, you may be suffering from a treatable medical condition. It’s time to see your doctor.

Step two

Once you’ve identified why you can’t smell or taste, the treatment might be obvious. You quit smoking, change medications, clear up your allergy symptoms, treat nasal infections, etc.

In addition, there are some things to help improve your sense of smell. They include:

  • Take 200 mg lipoic acid three times a day. One study showed marked taste and smell improvement in a human trial.
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Humidify the air in your home in the winter
  • Keep your nose unblocked with nasal spray
  • Wear your seatbelt to avoid head injuries
  • Avoid really bad odors, they numb your sense of smell
  • Train your nose – To do this check out the post Homemade Perfume Part I
  • If you think your loss of taste and smell is due to an infection, you might try a treatment using essential oils. In a humidifier, try adding a few drops of peppermint oil, tea tree, lemon, rosemary, thyme, and eucalyptus.

Important note – Don’t take Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel or Nasal Swab. These two products have been associated with anosmia.

Please read Thieves’ Oil Recipe – Research Says It Really Works. This recipe works wonders and can be put in a humidifying diffuser,

Conclusion

If you are a goddess who has lost her sense of smell and there’s little chance of getting it back or you are waiting for it to come back, there is still much to make your spa day a great experience. You can enjoy the wonderful effects of music and colors. And don’t forget that oh so soothing bath and the luxurious softness of your towels and linens.

Now go have fun and relax.

Related articles:

Thieves’ Oil Recipe – Research Says It Really Works

71 thoughts on “Can’t Smell or Taste? Here’s What to Do.”

  1. Hi there Guest,
    If I had to guess, and that’s what I’m doing, I would think the chemicals in the pool might be your problem. When I go swimming in a highly chlorinated pool, it messes with my sense of smell too. For me, the problem resolves in a few hours. It might take a bit longer for you.

    1. Hi there Guest,
      So sorry for your sinus problems. If it was me, I would make a timeline list of when the symptoms started and all medications used. I would present my ENT with that at my next visit and ask him or her why the problem persists. Simply telling you everything is fine when it clearly isn’t is not satisfactory. If I didn’t get satisfactory answers I’d find myself a new doctor.

    1. Those are your taste receptors located on your tongue. So, it is not surprising that you can taste. As for the sense of smell, give it time to return. It sounds like your doctor is pretty thorough and will also want to know the cause of the problem if it doesn’t return. When I lost my sense of smell due to a virus infection, it took almost a year for things to return to normal. However, if your sense of smell doesn’t return, go back to the doctor and tell him or her that you aren’t going away until s/he determines the cause. Don’t be intimidated by the white coat.

      Be sure and report back here and let us know how you’re doing.

  2. Hey there Guest,

    If I were you, I wouldn’t be angry with my doctor until I had the full story. I would start by calling my doctor to discuss all of my symptoms including the headaches, lack of sense of smell and any other symptoms I may have.

    Symptoms will tell the doctor if there is anything to be concerned about. It might be that the symptoms are expected and will go away with time.

    If I wasn’t satisfied with the answers I got from my doctor, I would then get a second opinion from another physician.

    Be sure and get back to let us know how you’re doing.

  3. Hi there Guest,

    So sorry you’re having such a time of it. First let me say I I think you’re ENT specialist is being very thorough. You want that in a doctor. I take it that s/he has found nothing abnormal outside of the polyps.

    It sounds like your doctors are now treating the symptoms without actually finding the cause. I’m assuming they cultured and did the blood work to rule out a chronic infection. You didn’t mention whether you have been tested for allergies, one of the most common causes of chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis.

    I’m no doctor, but if it were me, I’d want to know what the cause of my chronic runny nose (rhinitis). I would research these two terms online: “chronic rhinitis” and “chronic sinusitis”. I would also search for the terms “chronic rhinitis research” and “chronic sinusitis research”.

    While I was investigating, I’d avoid nasal sprays and cortisone treatments. In your case, they don’t seem to help anyway and they have been associated with permanent anosmia.

    To get you started, I’ve included a couple of links to sources I have found to be reliable in the past. I’m also not shy about calling researchers with questions.

    This helpful article appeared in the Chicago News Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-28/news/chi-tms-mayo-runny-nose_1_rhinitis-nose-vasomotor

    From John Hopkins, I found this interesting article complete with the contact information for the researcher. Apparently, standard allergy tests may turn up negative, but an allergen may still be the culprit. In this case allergen specific tests are needed. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/headway/headway_winter_2012/antioxidants_a_fix_for_chronic_sinusitis

    This information is on the Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/allergy-rst/sinusitis.html?mc_id=comlinkpilot&placement=bottom

    If you need additional help with your research, let me know and I’ll step up. We don’t like our friends to have problems.

    Love you,

    Mama Vic

  4. Hi there Guest,

    It’s time to play detective. You should try and figure out what is causing your nose to be blocked. The most common cause is allergies. If you own animals or work with them, their dander may be the culprit. House mites are also a common cause along with grasses, pollens and a host of foods. If you can’t figure out the cause, your doctor may suggest you have allergy tests. What you want is a permanent fix, not the temporary variety you get from over-the-counter meds.

    In answer to your question, yes there are a number of decongestants and nasal sprays that may offer temporary relief. Talk to your pharmacist for suggestions. As you know, if you’ve read my other posts, I don’t advocate the long term use of quick fix medications.

    Be sure you let us know how you’re doing.

    We love you.

    Vic

  5. Hi there Guest,

    So sorry you’re having problems. Have you seen an EENT (eye,ear,nose,throat) specialist? If not, you should do so. Don’t guess, particularly when you are having frequent nose bleeds. If you have, tell us what s/he had to say?

    Report back because we love you and want to know how you’re doing.

  6. Hello there Guest,

    Poppy seeds are probably not the problem. The only reason I say “probably” is because your body and how it reacts to food and drug intake may be unique to you. There is no research that I was able to find indicating poppy seeds or the small amount of opiates they contain causing problems with the sense of smell.

    I also checked out the medications you have and are taking and don’t see a connection there.

    If I were in your shoes, I would run, not walk to a good ENT and find out what’s going on. From what you have said, it sounds like finding the right treatment is the ticket to regaining your sense of smell.

    Good luck and be sure and let us know what your ENT recommends.

    We love you.

  7. Hi there Guest,

    So sorry you’re having such a time of it. It sounds like you’ve pretty much exhausted your medical options, but take heart, there is hope. I found the following link to a guy who was having many of the same problems and he shared what he did to cure himself.
    http://www.webmd.com/brain/anosmia-loss-of-smell?page=2

    If you think heavy metals such as mercury or lead may be factors, have your doctor run tests to determine your levels. If they are high, there are mean to chelate them out of your body.

    One other factor may be a vitamin B12 deficiency. That’s easily remedied with a supplement.

    Above all don’t panic and don’t get depressed. That will put you in a state of stress which doesn’t help your body heal. Focus on what you have, not on what you MAY not have in the future.

    We love you and want you to be happy,

    Vic

    P.S. Be sure and report back on how you’re doing.

  8. Hi Cindy,

    What does your neurologist say? I will add that there are new treatments being developed all the time. Don’t give up. Be proactive and research the latest studies and treatments for brain injuries.

    Cordially,
    Vic

  9. Hi Guest,

    We’re so sorry about your accident.

    Don’t give up. Antibiotics don’t usually cause a loss of smell, but a head injury can. The brain is pretty amazing in that it can heal, but it’s not a quick process.

    1. Hello Guest,

      Be patient. You are not identified by how well you can smell or taste. You are perfect with or without one of your senses. And as for those that tease you, in their own way, they’re probably trying to give you the same advice.

      Your experience will help you come away a stronger and hopefully more compassionate person. The reason is you will know what it’s like for others when they are different from the norm.

      We love you.

  10. Hi,

    Sounds like you have a stubborn cold. I’ve had them last up to two weeks before my immune system could conquer the bad bugs. If your cold doesn’t clear up in a week or so, I’d suggest a doctor’s visit to find out why.

    Be sure and report back and let us know how you’re doing.

    P.s. Are you getting enough vitamin C in your diet? Some people have good luck taking garlic capsules or placing a clove of garlic under the tongue. I know a guy who swears by this remedy and his colds never last more than a couple of days.

  11. Hi there,

    If I had your set of symptoms, I’d suspect an allergy. If it continues, check with your doctor.

    Good luck and be sure and let us know how you’re doing.

  12. Hi there Guest,

    I’m assuming you mean that the foods you eat have no flavor other than salty, sweet, bitter, sour, savory and fat. Flavors other than those are associated with the sense of smell. If you can smell the flavor, but not “taste” it, the gustatory receptor cells are either not receiving the stimulus (food flavor) or they are not transmitting the information to your cerebral cortex.

    I strongly recommend you see a physician about this. I certainly would.

    Good luck and be sure and get back to us on how you’re doing.

  13. Hi Guest,

    Not sure what you mean by you “felt” like you couldn’t smell nor how you “had a cold yesterday.” Could you be having a little fun with us here at SpaFromScratch.com?

  14. Hi there guest,

    Sounds like you really need to get to the bottom of the problem. I don’t like to go to doctors either, but if I had your set of symptoms, that’s exactly where I’d be heading.

    Good luck and get well soon.

  15. Hi there Guest,

    If I were in your shoes, I’d run, not walk to an ear, nose, throat physician. It sounds like an infection to me. All the steroids do is reduce swelling. A good physician will probably prescribe an antibiotic. A better physician will also take a culture from your nose to identify the bug.

    Be very proactive with this problem.

    Good luck and be sure to report back.

    Vic

  16. Hi there Guest.

    If it were me, I would wait awhile to see if my sense of smell returned. If it didn’t, I would see a specialist to find out what’s going on.

    Be sure and report back and let us know how your doing.

    Vic

  17. Hi there Guest,

    If it was me, I would follow the advice of the allergist and see a physician who specializes.

    Also, with all the medications you are using, be sure and read the information on potential side effects.

    You might also try Neti Pot approach by breathing the steam of a saline solution. That may help relieve the irritation in you sinuses and help restore your sense of smell.

    The reason you can “taste” salty, sweet, bitter and sour is because this taste comes from cells on your tongue.

    Good luck and be sure to report back.

  18. Hi Gem,

    Hay fever is an allergy and a chest infection can be bacterial, viral or fungal caused. Once your chest infection clears up, if you still have the problem, go on a quest to find the cause of your allergy and treat that.

    Be sure and see your physician to get the infection checked out.

    Good luck. Be sure and let us know how you’re doing.

  19. Hi Chris,

    So sorry you’re having problems. It doesn’t sound like just a cold. Once I had a cold that lasted for months. It was discovered anemia was the cause.

    If I was walking in your shoes, I would want to know if I had an allergy or if something else was going on. Be persistent with your physician until you get results. If one physician is unable or unwilling to do the necessary detective work, see one that is.

    Don’t forget to come back and let us know how you’re doing.

    Your friend,

    Vic

  20. I don’t like prednisone for long term use. I’ve witnessed the long term effects and it’s not pretty. I can’t tell you what to do, but if it was me, I would try and find out the cause. Since prednisone brings back the ability to smell, I would know I didn’t have permanent nerve damage and would be thankful for that. However, the mystery remains as to the cause and I would be a physician’s nightmare patient until I knew. You can’t permanently fix the problem if you don’t know what’s causing it.

    Be sure and report back what you discover.

    1. Hi there Victim,

      Since we’re not doctors, we aren’t able to diagnose the problem you are having. That said, if my sense of smell was behaving like yours, I would suspect an allergy. If I couldn’t figure out the problem on my own, I would probably see a physician that could help me discover the cause.

  21. Hi there,

    So sorry you are having problems.

    Allergies and sinus problems go hand in hand. There are various ways you can try and determine the culprit causing your allergies. It may be a food allergy or an airborne allergy. I would start by eliminating the most common allergens first such as peanuts, soy, dairy, MSG, corn, eggs and gluten.

    There are two ways to go about this: Eliminate all of the most common allergens for 14 to 21 days and see if it makes a difference. If it does, add them back into your diet one by one until you have a reaction then you will know to avoid that food to. The other way to test whether you are allergic to thees foods is to eliminate them one by one and see if your allergies clear up once a particular food is omitted from your diet. Keep in mind that a good allergist can do testing to determine the cause of your allergies and advise you.

    If you are plagued by bad breath, I strongly recommend you see a physician to determine why. Bad breath can be caused by a variety of problems some simple such as breathing with your mouth open or your diet. However, other causes can be far more serious such as gum infections and kidney disease. If I were you, I would see a physician to rule out possible serious medical conditions.

    Hey, we want you healthy because we love you so go visit a physician at least for the bad breath. The allergies you can try and resolve yourself.

  22. Hi Gracie,

    We look forward to hearing about your progress.

    Take heart in knowing that often the loss of smell and taste will resolve, but it can take several months. The fact that it returned with acupuncture tells you that the nerve receptors aren’t destroyed.

    We love you,

    Vic

  23. Hello there guest,

    I doubt the zinc lozenges are causing problems. Studies on zinc toxicity indicate you would need a higher dosage over a longer period of time for there to be cause for alarm. Also, consider that there are more milligrams of zinc in a single 3 ounce serving of oysters than your total intake of zinc.

    If I were in your shoes and thought I had a sinus infection, I would see my physician. It might be such a thing that an antibiotic could clear up the infection if it’s bacterial related.

    Just remember that antibiotics can take out the good bacteria along with the bad. So to avoid getting diarrhea eat active yogurt or take a probiotic supplement. I use either Nature Made or Spring Valley. They’re not all that highly rated, but they work well enough for me.

    Now you get to feeling better fast, that’s an order. There’s way too much fun to be had to spend time with bad bugs.

    We love you,

    Vic

  24. Hello there Kebede,

    You didn’t tell us whether you currently have anosmia or are fearful that you might suffer from it in the future.

    If you have anosmia now, reread the article and comments that follow for suggestions. You may also want to see a physician to help identify the cause of the problem.

    If you are not symptomatic, but are fearful you may have this problem in the future, then you will want to take an entirely different course of action. Attack your phobia by researching the causes and treatments of phobias. You may be able to also get help from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

    Whatever the problem, be proactive in resolving it because you deserve to be happy and healthy.

    We love you,

    Vic

  25. So sorry you’re having a time of it, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors stressing over the situation. Stress and anxiety can slow the healing process.

    My friend who lost her ability to smell or taste years ago says she remembers the flavors of her favorite foods. In addition, she still can taste sweet, salty and bitter (a function of the tongue)and this also helps her remember the flavors.

    Take care and be sure and let us know how you’re doing.

  26. Hello there,

    Sounds a lot like you have an allergy to something. Keep in mind allergies can be a little weird in that they can develop over time.

    If it is an allergy, it’s going to take some serious detective work to discover what it is. It may be environmental as in something you breath or absorb through your skin or it may be due to something you are consuming.

    To rule out a chronic sinus infection, check with your doctor.

    Good luck and get back to us on how you’re doing.

    We love you,

    Vic & Lori

  27. Hello there wonderful friend,

    I have found nothing in the literature linking spray deodorants to anosmia (loss of ability to smell). However, I did find that due to the drying action of antiperspirants, the sense of smell was temporarily impaired for some people.

    Your doctor has given you high doses of prednisone as an anti-inflammatory. I hope it works for you, but my guess is that time will be your best friend on this front.

    Several years ago, Lori and I managed to suffer from a virus infection that not only caused anosmia, but dysosmia, That is a condition where scents don’t smell the same as they should. Foods that previously smelled delicious to us, smelled terrible and perfumes we liked smelled absolutely foul. It took about 6 months for things to return to normal.

    As for treatments, some people report improvement with nasal washes. Others report that changing to a healthy diet markedly improved their ability to smell. I would assume this is due to the healthy diet actually nourishing the olfactory cells along with those in the entire body. Cursory investigation revealed no science to back this up other than a link to zinc deficiency and anosmia.

    Take heart, it is not uncommon for it to take quite a long time to get your sense of smell to return; sometimes months. Don’t stress about the problem, be patient and give your body the time it needs to heal. For most people, the sense of smell does return after sinus infections.

    Take care and report back. We want to know how you’re doing.

    We love you,

    Vic

  28. Hello wonderful friend.

    We’re sorry you’re having problems.

    Can you remember when the condition began? Was it after a cold or sinus infection? Was it after you were taking a medication?

    After a really bad sinus infection, my sense of smell and taste were really messed up for months. Foods I once enjoyed smelled awful as did many perfumes. Recovery was very slow and gradual.

    Since you’ve had the problem for over a year, You should see a doctor just to be on the safe side.

    We love you and look forward to hearing how you’re doing.

    Your friend,

    Vic

  29. So glad to hear all is well again. Thanks for getting back to us. I’m sure your welcome news will give hope to many who fear the loss of their sense of smell.

  30. If it’s been that long I suggest you pay a visit to your physician. If the loss of smell is due to a cold, it will typically return. Let’s hope yours returns soon.

    Be sure and let us know how you are doing.

    1. If you’re still having problems, it might be a good idea to see a physician. Also, be careful what over the counter medications you use as they may interact in undesirable ways. They may also contain ingredients that overlap causing you to overdose on them.

      Good luck and get back to us and let us know how you’re doing.

  31. Give it a little more time. Sounds like the bug still has a hold. If there is no improvement, see your physician. At least, that’s what I would do.

    Be sure and report back to us how you are doing.

  32. As mentioned in the post, there are a number of reasons that can cause your loss of smell. If you can’t identify the cause such as an allergy, medication you are using and so forth, I would strongly suggest you pay a visit to your physician. S/he may be able to get to the bottom of the problem or refer you to a specialist.

    Good luck and be sure and get back to us and let us know how you’re doing.

    1. Wait until you get over the cold. Chances are that’s the culprit. However, if you haven’t regained your sense of smell, it’s time to see your doctor.

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