Does anyone else get “phantom” smells?

[Junaluma]

I’ve been experiencing phantom smells for about 4 months and can’t pinpoint why I get them… they’re not usually strong but I’m convinced I can smell something that is actually there…

I ask DH if he can smell what I’m smelling but he can’t. I can usually smell smoke, petrol or sometimes poo. It has woken me up before.

I had an MRI scan about a month ago of my head (including brain) and it didn’t reveal anything so it’s unlikely linked to that. Any suggestions?

I have smelt gas or burning when no one else has. It's concerning me a bit.

Yes. Usually gas or cigarette smoke. Nearly always followed by a migraine. 'Funny' thing is that I don't have a sense of smell at all the rest of the time. Just these phantom ones!

I have it as a post covid legacy.

Mostly smokey smells.

I've had it since September 2020 and it's improved slightly.

Look up anosmia, it'll give you more info.

I have phantosmia as a type of migraine without pain. Smoke/petrol/toast and the like are quite common scents.
What amuses me is that I'm normally anosmic so it's very noticeable.

Yes pre COVID for me.
First noticed when I was in a children's hospital with my V V I'll child..sure it's stress.

Yes I do sometimes. The only way I can describe it is like smouldering mushroom compost. I've had a lot of sinusitis issues over the years which has damaged my sense of smell so I don't pay it much attention.

I have this and cannot explain why.

The phantom smells usually include smoke, cigarette, petrol and other random unpleasant ones. Nothing pleasant

I also am sensitive to smells in general and cannot tolerate if someone sprayed deodorant in my home. I dont have reactions but my senses go crazy 🥹.

Not sure if this is related nut i don't seem to have much BO. Not complaining as it makes my life easier bit i find i am just bland!

Yes, for me it’s like a burning smell or like smoky wood if that makes sense, like saw dust. It’s usually followed by a nose bleed

Yes but mostly early mornings when I'm just getting awake or the smell will
Actually wake me. I smell like strong cat pee smells, bleach

My whole life is smelling things that no one else can.

The most frequent are almonds, and Swarfega.

Yes since I had covid in 2020. Lost my sense of smell completely for months, it's not been right since and I also get a phantom smell of smoke at random times.

Cigarette smoke.

This can be common with menopause if anyone is at that age

Are they always the same smells and is there a link eg certain days of the week/month, at home, away from home etc? Are they really phantom or do you just have a more sensitive nose?

Yes! Either smoke or petrol. I haven’t had it for a while, but I suffered with this last year and the year before, particularly. Not sure if it’s linked to covid, migraine, or something else.

I was very ill with covid in 2021 and had fake smoke smells for about a year. It went away but came back briefly after a cold that wasn't covid. I assume it's some damage to the nose?

Gas, smoke or animal pee I smell. Mines from my BPD but a friend has migraines.and gets phantom smells too

Smoke / burning, since 2020. Thanks Covid.

Coffee so a no go since then, smells
Awful.

I get phantom taste sensations, but taste and smell are processed very similarly by the brain (stuffy nose affects taste etc). Not sure what it is, it is not really bothering me so I never consulted anyone about it.

Yep, migraine related phantosmia. Cigarette smoke as strong as if someone blew it in my face, dirty ashtray smells, occasionally burning like toast.

I also had this with covid, but tbh covid triggered a shit ton of migraines as well!

Yep, cigarette smoke..sometimes I think it's gone away but then I get surprised by it again...

I’m the same since I caught covid 4 years ago. My smell has probably only come back 60/70% and I get days and weeks of smelling cigarette smoke, like sitting in the smoke room at my old work before the ban. It’s awful. It has even made me cough it’s that realistic.

Some days just thinking of it brings it on, sometimes walking past someone smoking or a bonfire brings it on. I smell it for a week or so or even sometimes a month or two then it goes for a few weeks until it’s triggered again.

Google gene ABCC11

A lack of it means no BO, and no wet ear wax

I h

Interesting so many people have this! I had covid in 2022 but I didn’t have my taste/smell affected by it. I only noticed when I was going through a very stressful period in my life. Can it be triggered by stress?

yes, since covid in 2020