On March 16, I participated in a beta-test for a “normosmia” smell training class. Normosmia is the medical term for a normally functioning sense of smell. Most recent smell training focuses on “anosmia” (loss of sense of smell, a very common outcome of COVID). The class was organized by Frauke Galia (link below), who has worked in the fragrance industry, aromatherapy, and also, most recently, as a smell trainer. Normal smell function has a wide range of sensitivity, and it is also “normal” for sense of smell to decline with age. This smell training approach is intended to enhance the sense of smell we have, and to stave off the rate of decline we would otherwise experience. I was sworn to not reveal the details of the class. But, I was left believing that with reasonable intentional effort, my sense of smell can be trained and improved, just like many of us train our bodies to do a sport, or exercise to stay generally fit. Where a fit sense of smell leads me in tasting or appreciating wine will be a topic of future posts.

One thing I learned well before the beta-test group was where my smell receptors are located. I was slightly embarrassed to realize how sloppy my understanding of this was. Smell receptors are on the roof of the nasal cavity. They are not in the sinuses, lungs or throat. My lack of understanding of this basic point led me to make the biggest rookie mistake, if you want to fully experience what you smell: inhaling to deeply and too hard. If you take a big deep breath through your nose trying to smell something, you are basically racing all the odor molecules past your smell receptors and into your lungs. The “bunny sniff” is what you want to do. Bunny sniffs are aptly named–small, quiet sniffs, just deep enough to bring a small quantity of air into your nasal cavity, and no further. I find doing three or so of these bunny sniffs in a row seem to optimally load up my nasal cavity with a smell. This one change alone has made a significant difference in my ability to experience more subtle smells. I strongly encourage you to try this on your own.

A second thing I learned, also well before the beta-test training, was smelling more leads to smelling better, exactly like most other of life’s activities. I am not talking about obsession here–just making sure, several times a day, to intentionally smell something I am curious about. I am not talking about a quick “milk check” sniff, but actually taking a few seconds to sniff something, think about what I am smelling and put some words to it. Something I am cooking. An herb or spice I am about to add to a dish. My coffee. A plant I am watering. And, yes, a glass of wine.

If you are interested in tracking when Frauke Galia’s normosmia smell training classes are available, here is a link to her website–go to the bottom of the linked page. Also: if you are interested in doing a zoom-style normosmia smell training class with Frauke, please say so in the comments section below–I will send out details to be included in the class.