If you’ve lost your sense of taste and smell for two weeks or more, olfactory training, sometimes called smell training, can help recovery. It involves 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.

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Who is it for?

This approach is suitable for anyone who has lost their sense of smell, whatever the cause. It is most commonly used by people recovering from a viral infection such as Covid-19, but it is also used after head injury, sinus surgery, and other conditions that affect the olfactory system.

There is no age restriction and no medical supervision required. If you are unsure whether this is right for your situation, your GP or an ENT specialist can advise.

What to expect

It is not a quick fix. Most people train for a minimum of four months, and some continue for longer. Progress is often gradual and not always linear: some people notice small improvements within weeks, others take longer. The evidence suggests that the earlier you start after smell loss, the better, but it is worth starting at any stage.

The most important factor is consistency. Two short sessions a day, every day, will give you the best chance of seeing results.

Ready to start?

Read our step-by-step guide to the smell training technique, or find a kit at Scent Recover.