Our story
Get to know us
About AbScent
AbScent was a UK charity founded by Chrissi Kelly, built on her personal experience of smell loss following a virus in 2012. Finding little information or support available, Chrissi sought out answers and went on to co-author over 20 research papers, speak at clinical conferences, and contribute to a best-selling book on the management of Long Covid.
AbScent became an internationally recognised resource for people affected by smell disorders, receiving referrals from organisations including the NHS and the Mayo Clinic. All information shared was based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence, supported by a distinguished advisory board.
AbScent closed in 2024. This site is maintained as a free information archive for anyone affected by smell loss.
For ongoing smell loss support and news, visit CKOS, founded by Chrissi Kelly. For smell training kits, visit Scent Recover.
Our team
AbScent’s Trustee Board was a group of people with a common purpose, all of whom gave their time for free.
Chrissi Kelly
Founder and Chair of Trustees
Miriam Block
Founding trustee
Simon Gane FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Consultant Rhinologist and ENT Surgeon at the Royal National ENT Hospital.
Dr Jane K Parker
Founder and Director of The Flavour Centre, University of Reading.
Our advisory board
AbScent’s advisory board included some of the most respected names in olfactory research and allied fields:
Duika Burges Watson, PhD, Founder, Altered Eating Network, UK
Professor Claire Hopkins, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London and King’s College, London, UK and British Rhinological Society
Professor Thomas Hummel, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, GE
Johan Lundstrom, PhD, Senior researcher, Karolinska Institute, Dept of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, SE, and Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Joel Mainland, PhD, Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Robert Pellegrino, PhD, University of Tennessee, Department of Food Science & Technology, Knoxville, TN, USA
Nancy Rawson, PhD, Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Professor Barry Smith, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK