Smell Test

What it measures

This self-check measures how clearly you can detect eight strong, distinctive household odours — coffee, citrus, soap, vinegar, mint, a dried spice, peanut butter, and a fragrance. It gives a quick, informal indication of whether your sense of smell may be reduced (hyposmia) or absent (anosmia), and helps you decide whether to seek further assessment.

How it works

You gather eight common household items, hold each one close to your nose in turn, and rate how clearly you can detect the scent on a simple three-point scale: clearly, faintly, or not at all. Your ratings are totalled into a score that is mapped to one of four bands — from normal smell function through to possible anosmia. The approach is inspired by the NASAL (Novel Anosmia Screening at Leisure) study published in JAMA Otolaryngology (Rowan et al., 2022), which validated the use of ordinary household items for at-home olfactory screening, and the broader conceptual framework of the UPSIT and Sniffin' Sticks battery used in clinical olfactometry.

Tips for an accurate result

• 1Try smell training if your score is reduced — Smell training — deliberately sniffing four strong odours (typically rose, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus essential oils) for 20 seconds each, twice a day for at least three months — is the best-evidenced approach to restoring smell loss after viral illness. ENT UK and AbScent UK both provide free guidance.
• 2Seek prompt GP advice for sudden-onset total loss — If you have completely lost your sense of smell over a day or two, particularly after a cold, flu, or COVID-19, contact your GP or NHS 111. Post-viral anosmia often recovers, but early referral to a specialist improves outcomes.
• 3Be aware of the safety implications — A severely reduced sense of smell means you may not detect gas leaks, smoke, or spoiled food. Check that your home has working smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, and consider checking food by date labels rather than smell alone.
• 4Tell your GP about any other neurological symptoms — Gradual, progressive smell loss — especially if accompanied by tremor, memory difficulties, or changes in handwriting — can be an early sign of Parkinson's disease or dementia. Mentioning it early means it can be monitored appropriately.
• 5Consider allergies and sinusitis as reversible causes — Chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps are among the most common treatable causes of smell loss. If you also have persistent nasal congestion, facial pressure, or post-nasal drip, ask your GP about a nasal examination. Effective treatment often restores smell.