Coffee. A rose in bloom. Freshly cut grass. Baby lotion.
All of the above have distinctive scents attached to them and are basically quite easy to detect – some of us may even be able to pick them out with our eyes closed, thanks to a well-developed sense of smell. Can that sense be sharpened even further?
Have you ever been in a situation where someone asks you “Hey, do you smell that?” and you just can’t smell anything different? For many of us, not being able to smell things as well as others may not be a big deal, for it doesn’t seem to have a big impact on our lives. Still, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to make full use of our precious sense of smell? Indeed it would, and here, we suggest a few effective ways you can try, for sharpening your sense of smell.
If You’re Smoking, Stop
No good thing has ever come from smoking cigarettes, and when it comes to your sense of smell, it’s a huge culprit at dulling it. Even if you do not realise that you’re not making full use of your sense of smell, if you can cut back or quit smoking. it will greatly improve and in many ways, so will the quality of your life.
Up Your Zinc Intake
Having a zinc deficiency can lead to a dulled sense of smell and consequently, your sense of taste too. Start consuming foods high in zinc, like lamb, grass-fed beef, scallops, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and oats. If you have trouble getting enough of these foods, talk to yoir doctor about zinc supplements.
Check If You Have Allergies
Many among us have allergies that are compromising our sense of smell and preventing us from smelling properly. Unlike the common cold, which will go away, an allergy may not leave on its own. Consult your doctor for help if you think you may be having an allergy that is influencing your sense of smell and preventing you from making full use of it.
Try This Smelling Exercise
Smell with your eyes closed. Close your eyes and have someone hold different substances under your nose one at a time. See if you can identify the smells. You can rotate between smells that are considerably different from each other, like cocoa, vanilla, fennel, lime juice, etc. In time, as you get better at distinguishing between the different source of scents, you can start to work with smells that are more difficult to tell apart, like strawberry and raspberry, or lemon, lime and grapefruit. These simple exercises are brilliant ways to sharpen your sense of smell, and in the long run, it will make you more appreciative of the scents around you.
Inhale Strong Smells.
If your sense of smell seems dulled these days, you can try to revive them by engaging new receptors in your nose. Choose several strong smells that are pleasant to you and spend a few minutes every day sniffing each one. After a few weeks, your nose will be able to pick up on these smells more easily. When you start noticing a difference, practice with more smells. Tools you can use for this enjoyable scent therapy include dried herbs, floral body washes, ground coffee, as well as different essential oils. During the practice, sniff quickly, rather than deeply inhaling each scent. This way you’ll avoid scent fatigue.
