Covid-19 smell and taste loss
Loss of smell and taste is one of the recognised symptoms of Covid-19.
Around one in ten people who lose their sense of smell will have persistent smell loss lasting at least eight weeks, and often much longer. Many people also experience distorted or unpleasant smells as they recover. This is called parosmia, and it is a recognised part of the recovery process.
Smell rarely comes back all at once. Progress can stall, and some people find things get worse before they get better. That is normal and does not mean recovery has stopped.
A few things are worth knowing as you recover:
- Eating well can be difficult, especially if parosmia makes certain foods unpleasant or repulsive.
- Smell loss can affect mood. Research shows that a reduced sense of smell is associated with increased vulnerability to depression. If you are struggling, speak to your GP or find out more about low mood and depression on the NHS website.
- There is no treatment that directly restores smell, but there is help available for related symptoms such as changes in appetite, weight loss, and low mood.
- Smell training is recommended by doctors as a way to support recovery. It involves regularly and deliberately sniffing a small set of scents to help stimulate the olfactory system.
Find out more about smell training
Connect with others through the AbScent community
The NoseWell guide
This guide was created with generous support from the British Rhinological Society (BRS). It covers simple steps to recovering your sense of smell after Covid-19 and other viral infections.
Read more about Covid-19 smell loss
When you’ve lost your sense of smell again
How much does Covid-19 affect taste?
How many people have lost their sense of smell because of Covid-19?