By Claire Heald

BBC News Magazine



Imagine burning the toast unawares, every day. Mowing the lawn without a breath of fresh-cut grass. Biting into an apple - or is that a potato? - as the flavours remain indistinguishable on the palate.

That is day to day life for the thousands of people with anosmia, who lack a sense of smell.

Perfume, the film released this week adapted from the novel by Patrick Suskind, follows a murderer, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who has no odour but possesses an unparalleled, acute sense of smell which he uses in his pursuit of power.

Recovery depends on the cause

The causes range from severe head injuries, to viruses and nasal congestion conditions, to degenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Some suffer from anosmia, which means no sense of smell; hyposmia is a decreased ability; and dysosmia is when things smell differently than they should.

Sense of danger

Our sense of smell is an underestimated life sense (albeit the basis of a hugely profitable perfume industry).

We use it to detect chemicals in the air, and its receptors contribute to our ability to distinguish flavour - those unable to smell have very little sense of taste. It plays a role in mental and physical health, emotion, sex and relationships. It helps people guard against bad or off food, and helps warn against dangerous situations.

Petrol was spilling out across the garage where Robert Tambling was working at home in East Sussex. But he was oblivious to the risk until his other half came in and asked: "What's that smell?"

You have lost a whole dimension of your life - we constantly sample the atmosphere for smells

Professor Tim Jacob

Apart from the most serious practical effect - exposing him to danger - eating has lost its sensual pleasure. And, a keen gardener, he can no longer smell the roses.

"It's a loss that needs to be mourned," he says. "In terms of my quality of life, eating is diminished. I cannot taste herbs, other than mint. Coffee or tea even are not the same experience.

"Of the flowers come out in spring, my favourite, the daphnes, are wonderful, but I haven't been able to smell them for three years."

Others talk of feeling alienated and frustrated, as demonstrated by these contributors to a website for people with the condition:

• "I couldn't smell my children, my husband, or the food I loved to cook - words failed to describe my loss" • "I got this sense that everything around me was fake, that I was on a film set" • "When I was a kid, when people said 'those cookies in the oven smell good', I thought it was a joke that everyone was in on, and I'd say it too"

Where Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is in turn revolted, thrilled and mesmerised by the scents he detects, people without the sense are cut off from their emotions, says Professor Tim Jacob, from the University of Cardiff, who researches smell.

Smell helps us enjoy food

People can become clinically depressed - up to 17% of subjects in one study. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg," he says. "You have lost a whole dimension of your life, which generally you are not aware of, but we constantly sample the atmosphere for smells. For example you go home and if it smells familiar, it is relaxing, but if it's unfamiliar it tells you that something's changed."

The effects can penetrate some of the most important parts of human existence. Weight loss or gain are side effects as people lose the anticipation of and satisfaction from food. As it goes with sex lives - if smell deteriorates completely or changes, so can a partner's attraction and the relationship.

Grenouille in Perfume is scentless, allowing him to move among others unnoticed. Conversely, people without a sense of smell may fear going out and become withdrawn because they cannot tell if they smell bad.

The likelihood of recovery from anosmia depends on what has caused it, as well as any treatment. There is no known cure for Robert, although, as he is taking steroids, his sense of smell does return on occasion.

"Sometimes, in the afternoon I can smell, it might be just for an hour and then it will go again," he says.

And what does he use his re-discovered sense to smell in that time? "Ah," he says wistfully, "I just smell the world."

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I lost my smell two years due to allergic nasal congestion and since then I couldn't enjoy my food. The smell of spices and herbs which used to be my appetizer has gone. I am working in a lab where carcinogens like DEPC, mercaptoethanol, phenol, etc are used liberally and I am scared that I may get complicacy because of my lack of sense. I pray to God to give me my sense back so that I can spice up my life again.

Luke Shanti, Bangalore

I lost my sense of smell in 92 following a car accident and multiple head injuries. I do miss certain smells such as flowers and perfume but I don't miss the more unpleasant odours like sweaty people, stinky animals (skunks, pigs, etc). I am aware of the dangers associated with my lack of sense of smell. I can sense a difference in the air with certain chemicals but there is always a risk. I am very lucky that my impairment has not affected my sense of taste!

Elisabeth, Paris, France

Like Robert, I lost my sense of smell due to nasal polyps, although it would sometimes return briefly. Worst experience was a gastronomic tour of NW Spain when I ate and ate but could taste nothing. Life was pretty miserable but a polypectomy has left me with sense of taste and smell fully restored. Being able to smell the stink of traffic is a mixed blessing...

Chazza, Canterbury

Is it just me, or do other men hate perfume shops unless they have a bad cold? Stepping outside feels like a drink of fresh cold water.

John O'Leary, Hoofddorp, NL

I have recently lost my sense of smell following a fall when I hit the back of my head. My GP has arranged a consultation with a neurologist to determine if the cause is neurological. I was given perfume for Christmas; I have no idea how it smells. Couldn't smell the turkey cooking or the Christmas pudding! Cannot believe difference it has made to my life. Fingers crossed it can be restored. Cannot imagine a life without being able to smell the good things in life. I live very close to a park and in summer can always tell when the grass has been cut as the smell wafts into my street. I love the smell of wood smoke when neighbours are having a burn up in the garden in autumn.

Shirley Teece, London

I have lost my smell for 4 years now. The biggest thing I miss is tasting food. Most of the time I can only judge my food by its saltiness/sweetness and texture. The rich aromas of herbs and garlic are lost, and eating out at a fine restaurant looses it's appeal. Last year when I purchased perfume for my girlfriend for Christmas, I had to take my 8 year old daughter with me and get her to explain the scent to me! With generic terms such as flowery, fruity, sticky we managed to find one that was appreciated. The other things you miss are simple ones, the smell of freshly-washed hair when you hug your friends, the smell of food cooking, and most importantly the smells of danger. I have once nearly made myself unconscious because I was working in the garage with spray paint - I can't smell it, but the fumes still affect the brain.

Tim Russell, Huizen, The Netherlands

I lost my sense of smell two years ago as a result of a head injury. I can't identify with the huge sense of loss that I see some have described, but would say that the danger factor is my main concern - I can't smell leaking gas or petrol etc or food that's gone off. I am happily immune to the horrors of public transport and public loos. But the thing that saddens me the most is that if I ever have a baby, I shan't be able to smell his head. That smell is exceptional.

Joanna Case, Rome, Italy

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