Press
AbScent in the news and media
About AbScent
AbScent was a UK-registered charity supporting people experiencing the effects of smell loss. It closed in 2024, but this page is preserved as a record of AbScent’s media coverage and public information work.
AbScent was an internationally recognised resource for trusted, evidence-based information on smell disorders, supported by a distinguished advisory board of clinicians and researchers. It received referrals from the NHS, the Mayo Clinic, and media organisations worldwide.
For ongoing smell loss support, visit CKOS. For smell training kits, visit Scent Recover.
Olfaction facts
The facts about smell
Smell loss is a condition that is estimated to affect five percent of the population – approximately 3.3m people in the UK.
Smell disorders can be caused by illness, head injury, sinus disease, as a result of chemotherapy/radiation during cancer treatment, as a side effect of medications, or without obvious cause. Those born without a sense of smell are called congenital anosmics.
There are very few medical treatments for smell disorders, and they don’t work for most people. This is why we need more research into smell disorders.
AbScent offers information, support and practical advice for people living with smell disorders.
Smell training
- Smell training is demonstrated to support recovery of smell.
- Smell training is mindfully sniffing four or more fragrances twice a day.
- Smell training is recommended by the British Rhinological Society and effectiveness has been shown in more than a dozen peer-reviewed studies.
There is no ‘cure’ for smell disorders, and consensus on treatment options is limited.
Recovering lost smell following a virus
In many cases, a patient will recover their sense of smell naturally after a couple of weeks. Where the virus causes damage to olfactory neurons – around 10% of Covid-19 smell loss cases – recovery may take much longer, from a few months to a few years.
The Guardian
The Grocer
The Times
Good Housekeeping
Newsweek
The Guardian
BBC London
Newsweek
Hospital Hub
ITV News
BBC Online
Mail on Sunday
The Telegraph
29 September 2021