In 2020 I had a three week bout of Covid in the early pre-jab days. Not a great experience. The weirdest thing was losing my sense of smell and taste which lasted for over six months.
There were times when I thought it was gone for good and I realised what precious senses they actually are - and not only for enjoyment of food and drink, fresh coffee, glasses of wine, flowers in the hedgerow etc., I realised how much I missed the smell and taste of my wife.
The smell of her hair and skin - subtly different on different areas of her body - her back, her neck etc. I even love (and missed) the smell of her feet (she doesn't get that one!)
And I love the smell of her intimate parts - front and back. They play a massive part in turn on and enjoyment of sex. A daily shower, not necessarily immediately beforehand, is just perfect.
I remember once she playfully rubbed her finger tip against herself during sex and put it under my nose. The effects on me were startling!
She's not generally forthright when it comes to talking about sex but she's said a couple of times that I smell "good" down there. I remember a former girlfriend taking her time having a good long sniff of my genitals before starting oral - a bit disconcerting at first but affirming I guess, and she seemed to enjoy it.
Thankfully my senses of smell and taste did fully return and I definitely appreciate them - and my wife - all the more.
I guess the sense of the smell of our partner might be more important than we imagine?