When Smells Seem Wrong: Parosmia and Phantosmia

If an unpleasant smell keeps catching your attention, you may find yourself checking your shirt, the room and the next cup of coffee. Describe the experience to a clinician without having to settle its cause first.

Compare what the terms describe

Detail	Parosmia	Phantosmia
Meaning	Something smells different from what you expect	You perceive a smell that is not there
Observation to discuss	Whether the experience happens with a particular item or setting	Whether you can identify any source when the smell occurs
What the label does not settle	The cause or best care plan	The cause or best care plan

Definitions are from University Hospitals Birmingham.¹

These definitions are a starting point for describing your experience. They do not establish a diagnosis from a reaction to one item or from someone else saying they cannot smell it. Ask the clinician how they will assess what you are noticing.

Record the change before the visit

University Hospitals Birmingham’s February 2026 leaflet describes parosmia and phantosmia after viral infections or head injury. If you are worried about a persistent smell change, it recommends a GP appointment to decide whether specialist assessment is needed.¹

Write down when it started, whether it comes and goes, and what was happening when you noticed it. If other familiar smells or food flavours also seem different, include that in your description. Bring your medicine list and mention any recent illness or injury rather than deciding which detail must explain it.

You could say: “This is the smell I keep noticing. It began around this date, and these are the situations when it happens. Please help me understand what needs checking.”

Ask what the assessment will add

The Birmingham leaflet describes an ENT examination, often including a small camera inside the nose. Specific smell tests, allergy testing or other investigations may be considered. Not every person needs the same tests.¹

Ask what each proposed test is looking for, how to prepare and how the results will be explained. If the clinician recommends an initial plan before referral, record when to review it and whom to contact if the change persists.

The NHS² advises seeing a GP if your sense of smell has not returned to normal in a few weeks. A clinician checks for obvious causes and may refer you when the cause is uncertain.²

Bring the worry into the conversation too

If you are spending time checking yourself or worrying about other people’s reactions, tell the clinician what that is doing to your day. You can discuss both the smell change and the practical difficulty it creates without trying to prove either one first.

Arms Up includes a Fresh Log and a visit script. Use them to collect the observations and questions you want to bring, alongside the appointment details. Explore the sweat and odor playbook.