It wasn’t easy and I didn’t know if it would work. The thought of having to completely change my life in so many unexpected ways, like constantly worrying about personal hygiene, or never being able to eat with friends, or being unable to wash my hair because the parosmia-smell of hot wet hair made me vomit in the shower, was too depressing to contemplate.

About 80% of my smell has now returned in my right nostril, but I can’t smell anything at all in the left one. Thanks to my love of fragrance I knew how well I could smell before, which means I’m more aware of how limited it still is, but I can probably smell as well as the average person now. I rarely have an off-reaction and the parosmia has almost entirely passed. It’s such an isolating condition, so awful and depressing, but I know I’m one of the lucky ones.”

“Everything I put in my mouth tasted of burnt leaves and mould”