Scent Therapy
Women's Health US|December 2022
A fine-tuned sense of smell can pay off with major mind and body benefits. Scientists have simple tips to help you regain (or boost) your sniffing instincts.
Krista Bennett DeMaio
Scent Therapy

One morning, Courtney Dunlop, 41, of Springfield, Missouri, was massaging on a face cream she thought was unscented when she detected the aroma of roses. How could an unscented product suddenly have a fragrance, she wondered. It ain't magic, but neuroscience: Dunlop's sense of smell had finally made a full recovery, one and a half years after she was infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Loss of smell, or anosmia, was one of the pandemic's most widely discussed symptoms, but it's not exclusive to COVID. "There are actually hundreds of reasons someone can lose their sense of smell," says Zara Patel, MD, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Stanford Medicine. And a handful of them are revving up this time of year: the flu, rhinoviruses, sinusitis (congested, inflamed nasal passages), and pregnancy rhinitis (nasal inflammation during pregnancy). Other causes include endocrine and metabolic issues such as hormonal changes, head trauma, certain medications, and the aging process.

Dunlop initially lost her sense of smell for six weeks, then gained it back gradually-until 18 months later, when she could finally stop and smell the roses in her face cream. "Thankfully, I like that smell," she jokes. This process can take a matter of weeks or several months, regardless of the cause. And in 20 to 30 percent of all cases of anosmia, there is lasting olfactory dysfunction: a complete loss, reduced function (hyposmia), or a change in how scent is perceived (parosmia).

To help someone get their sense of smell back (or speed up the process), experts turn to smell retraining, a practice that stimulates your olfactory system. We sniffed out the science behind this therapy to find how it may help you, even if you've never lost your sense of smell.

THE SCIENCE OF SCENT

Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Women's Health US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Women's Health US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WOMEN'S HEALTH USVer todo
Silver Linings Playbook
Women's Health US

Silver Linings Playbook

You can learn how to become more optimistic, no matter your starting point.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November - December 2024
THE RISE of the GENTLE C-SECTION
Women's Health US

THE RISE of the GENTLE C-SECTION

How a new surgical practice is transforming women's childbirth experience

time-read
4 minutos  |
November - December 2024
The Next Health Tech Revolution Is Here
Women's Health US

The Next Health Tech Revolution Is Here

From smart watches to tracking apps, devices are providing valuable insights.

time-read
7 minutos  |
November - December 2024
Planting New Roots
Women's Health US

Planting New Roots

Six late-bloomer lesbians\" share their stories of how they learned to live—and love—authentically.

time-read
8 minutos  |
November - December 2024
GROWING FORWARD
Women's Health US

GROWING FORWARD

Country singer KELSEA BALLERINI is working harder than ever to shake (and remake) old patterns that no longer serve her. Here, she opens up about her intentional journey and shares her mental health musts.

time-read
7 minutos  |
November - December 2024
"Learning to Ski at 57 Helped Me Embrace Uncertainty"
Women's Health US

"Learning to Ski at 57 Helped Me Embrace Uncertainty"

Tackling something new-and terrifying was exactly what one freshly single midlifer needed.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November - December 2024
Grain Gains
Women's Health US

Grain Gains

This cozy quinoa salad paired with juicy chicken thighs clocks nearly 50 grams of protein.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
Healthy Eats, Delivered
Women's Health US

Healthy Eats, Delivered

It might be possible to say soodbye to grocery stores forever. But should you? yee

time-read
4 minutos  |
November - December 2024
Shower Power
Women's Health US

Shower Power

How one writer improved her mental health by connecting with her body

time-read
4 minutos  |
November - December 2024
Scent Solutions
Women's Health US

Scent Solutions

What was once a taboo subject-body odor-is now a convo more and more people are happily having.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November - December 2024