I have noticed recently that it has become quite the thing for people to share about having any sense of smell. Honestly, this amused me no end as I have been living with no sense of smell most of my life, and for me, it seemed like the most normal thing in the world. Except when one of the major symptoms of covid-19 was a loss of smell and taste, it became a hot topic.

How did I come to have no sense of smell?

When I was younger, I had the worst problem with my nose, and it would always run. Like I had a cold, but it was thick green snot—All-day, every day no matter the weather. I went for test after test. Many operations, I actually cannot even remember how many I have had.

My first be was to remove my adenoids. One of my last ones was when they drilled up through my gums above my two front teeth to my sinuses and increased the drainage space in my sinuses. The ones in-between? I have no idea. In my mind, I had 7, but this could be wrong. I was young, around 9-12 at the time.

My last trip to the operating theatre, I think I was around 15. I was prepped ready to go and just about to be put under anaesthetic when the consultant doing my operation asked some questions. It seemed like my symptoms were easing somewhat, and I actually didn’t need to go through this operation. Which I remember being amazing as 1) it made me so ill when I came round from the anaesthesia and 2) my previous operation I was apparently hysterical wanting Mark Owen from Take that to come and save me! So yeah, a wee bit embarrassing!

What Caused My Lack of Smell?

As far as I am aware, there was no reason for my issues with my nose as a child. No known allergies or anything that I can remember. It was simply one of those things. However, in all the operations and treatments, I did lose my sense of smell. I don’t think I even remember having one, but I also don’t remember any sense of smell being a major problem.

Of course, there were those times when I was growing up when my sisters would automatically know what was being cooked for dinner. I would be running downstairs behind them sniffing as hard as possible wondering how on earth they knew! It never occurred to me then there was an issue. I couldn’t smell it!

Life as an Adult with No Sense of Smell

As I got older, got my first job and started living life as an adult, I realised that living with no sense of smell was bringing its own issues. Don’t get me wrong; it was a blessing and a curse. Not being able to smell anything rancid, people breaking wind or people with bad hygiene in work was so good. I was delightfully oblivious most of the time.

But living alone would prove that no sense of smell was an issue, especially as far as gas appliances are concerned. You see, as much as generally, life with no sense of smell doesn’t affect my life; on this subject, it was a massive problem. I will never be able to tell if I have accidentally left the gas on. or if the house was on fire, or indeed I was yet again burning my dinner. I have no idea, and I cannot smell it.

I don’t wear perfume or scented fragrances as I can’t smell them. I can’t smell flowers, and I can’t always tell if my home smells. As a reaction to this, I generally tend to have all my windows open to let fresh air and use ‘clean’ fragrances around my house.

Different scented clothes detergent and fabric conditioner confuses me so much. Do people use heavily fragranced clothes detergent and a different fragranced fabric conditioner? I use herbal liquid tablets from Surf – again as it claims to remove odours and a hypoallergenic fabric conditioner with no fragrance. I have sensitive skins os this works for me. But all that fragrance on your clothing? I cannot fathom how that would work.

Again, I can’t smell my kitchen bin so if it smells and you come into my home, apologies but I am delightfully oblivious.

Having No Sense of Smell as a Parent

Oh, this is where the fun really began. I could never smell if Olivia needed her nappy changing. Or if she had spilt food or milk as a toddler. BO, stale food in the bedroom, damp towels, smelly socks all of them a complete mystery to me and something I actively have to look out for just in case. As a teenager, my habit of opening all the windows and doors annoys Olivia, but I feel like I need to give my home that fresh, clean smell as otherwise I imagine my home smells stuffy. Whatever that means!

Can I Smell Anything? 

Occasionally I will get a whiff of something. And certain smells will trigger a memory reflex-like roses or freshly cut grass. Sometimes I wonder if I smell it or it is simply my brain remembering what it smells like.

More frequently, over recent years, I get phantom smells. Usually vinegar-based. I always say I can smell salt and vinegar crisps or brown sauce. Randomly it can plague me for days before disappearing.

By extension, my tastebuds aren’t spectacular. I would be absolutely useless at a wine tasting. Nor can I pinpoint specific flavours in foods. I can tell you if I like it or not, but on the whole, I can’t identify ingredients meaning some foods are automatically ruined for me unless it is spicy.

It has only been recently that I discovered there is actually a word for not having a sense of smell, Anosmia! This is completely normal; it is how I live my life, and generally, it has no bearing on my day to day activities. Although if you tell me you can smell burning when I am driving, I will immediately panic thinking my car is fire so don’t do that! Mother, I am looking for you here. But I don’t think my life is any worse off for it. Maybe if I had lost my sense of smell at an older age, it would have more of an impact, but as I barely remember being able to smell it quite literally is no skin off my nose!