Skip to main content

Anyone who suffers from anosmia (the loss of smell) will be happy to hear that olfactory training has been shown to be 30% to 50% effective in curing it.

As the olfactory nerves regenerate after being damaged (often from a virus or COVID-19), the pathway may be corrupted and improperly “rewire,” causing one smell to smell very different — often rather bad. Dr. Pasha recommends olfactory training to essentially retrain the brain to recognize familiar smells as well as to reconnect your sense of taste.

Steps Involved in Olfactory Training

Olfactory training is as simple as following these steps:

  1. Purchase four to five essential oil scents. Choose strong scents you are familiar with, such as rose, lemon, cloves, eucalyptus, or coffee.
  2. Purchase small storage containers.
  3. Place a few drops of each scent in separate containers and attach labels under the caps. Hiding the label will allow you to try to guess the scents as your sense of smell improves.
  4. Spend about 10 to 20 seconds smelling each scent, initially looking at the label. Focus on the smell and then wait a few seconds before changing scents. As your sense of smell returns, try to identify the scent without looking at the label.
  5. Repeat twice a day.

FAQs About Olfactory Training

How Long Does Olfactory Training Take?

This is a difficult question, as olfactory training can take anywhere from months to years. Typically, one wants to commit to three to four months of training.

Does Olfactory Training Help With COVID-19?

Olfactory training has been proven to be successful for other viral causes of loss of smell, and therefore should be considered with post-COVID anosmia.

Does Olfactory Training Have Any Side Effects?

Nope. Olfactory training is a natural remedy without risks.

Do I Have to Use Essential Oils for Olfactory Training?

You can use pretty much anything, from real coffee beans to lemon extract. Use scents that are different, strong, and familiar to you.

Does Olfactory Training Help With Loss and Changes of Taste?

Since your senses of smell and taste are directly connected, your sense of taste should return with your sense of smell.

Start Your Olfactory Training Today

Pasha Snoring & Sinus Center wishes you the best of luck with your olfactory training! Have any additional questions or concerns about how your training is going? Feel free to schedule an appointment with us!

FAQ: Problems Identifying Source of Sleep Apnea

Why is sleep apnea so difficult to diagnose? Dr. Pasha explains why in this informative video.

Watch Here

How Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Affect Your Health

Living without regular sleep is like operating machinery that hasn’t received maintenance in years. While you can occasionally have a bad night’s sleep and probably be okay, going long periods of time without deep sleep can cause the body unnecessary wear and tear.

Read More

Schedule an Appointment

"*" indicates required fields