Smelling things that aren't there (phantosmia) (2024)

FAQs

Smelling things that aren't there (phantosmia)? ›

Phantosmia refers to detecting smells that aren't really there. It's a symptom of many common conditions, including allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections. It could also indicate a brain-related condition, including epilepsy, stroke or Alzheimer's disease.

An olfactory hallucination (phantosmia) makes you detect smells that aren't really there in your environment. The odors you notice in phantosmia are different from person to person and may be foul or pleasant. You may notice the smells in one or both nostrils.

If symptoms persist for more than a few days, doctors may first recommend simple treatments, such as using a saline solution to rinse out mucus from the nasal passages. Certain drugs may help people with long lasting phantosmia control their symptoms: anesthetic to numb the nerve cells. steroid creams or sprays.

Unlike parosmia, in which your nose is still able to smell something, phantosmia is when your smell receptors “hallucinate” and detect odors that aren't there. The smells may range from good to unpleasant. Phantosmia isn't constant; it can come and go.

'Dysosmia' is an altered perception of smell and includes 'cacosmia' (the altered perception of a present stimulus) and 'phantosmia' (an odor perception without stimulus).

It's a symptom of many common conditions, including allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections. It could also indicate a brain-related condition, including epilepsy, stroke or Alzheimer's disease. If you have phantom smells that last longer than a few weeks, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.

a brain tumour in the temporal lobe could lead to sensations of strange smells (as well as other symptoms, such as, difficulty with hearing, speaking and memory loss)

There is no evidence to suggest that smelling burnt toast may indicate a heart attack or a stroke, although people have anecdotally linked the conditions to the phantom odor. Phantosmia, which involves smelling phantom smells such as burnt toast, may indicate an underlying medical condition.

Researchers suggest that a “miswiring” of the brain causes phantom smells in people with anxiety.

Smelling things that aren't there is called phantosmia. It can be unpleasant and affect how things taste. But it isn't usually serious and may go away by itself in a few weeks or months. See your GP if the strange smell doesn't go away in a few weeks.

Why am I smelling a chemical smell? ›

If you have phantosmia, the odors can vary from smells that almost make you sick to really pleasant scents. But most people with phantosmia tend to detect bad smells. The odors have been described as “burned," "foul," "rotten," "sewage," or "chemical." You may be smelling it from one or both of your nostrils.

Definition. A hallucination of an unpleasant odor. [ from NCI]

Hyperosmia is an overwhelming sensitivity to smells. There are many reasons behind this change in smell. Some include genetics, hormone changes, and migraines. ‌If you have hyperosmia, your taste may also be affected.

While vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause an altered sense of smell, this would be unlikely unless you follow a restricted diet or have an intestinal problem that impairs the absorption of nutrients. Here are some other causes of altered smell: COVID-19 or a cold or sinus infection.

Causes of parosmia (troposmia) and phantosmia

This disorder sometimes follows damage to the olfactory neuroepithelium due to URI or head trauma, or it may be associated with aging. It can also be secondary to temporal lobe tumors or seizures.

Phantom Smells, such as odd, strong, acrid, metallic, blood-like, sour, ammonia-like, acidy, and repugnant smells, to name a few, are common anxiety disorder symptoms. Many anxious people report having phantom and odd smells as an anxiety symptom.

Several conditions may cause a bad smell in the nose, including sinusitis, tooth/ mouth infections, dry mouth, some medications, some foods/drinks, and olfactory damage. Typically, a bad smell in the nose is not life-threatening but can decrease the quality of life.

if you suddenly smell a fragrance with no source, it's often considered a sign from a deceased loved one.

However, phantosmia may occur in people with various cardiovascular health conditions. For example, one 2020 study found that adults in certain age groups who experienced congestive heart failure or angina were around three times more likely than the larger population to perceive phantom odors.