AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Smell and Taste: 

Spice of Life

Sally looked forward to Thanksgiving 

dinner at her daughter’s house. But, when 

she ate the holiday food, she felt let down. 

It wasn’t as tasty as she remembered. Sally 

knew her daughter was a good cook. What 

was wrong? Maybe Sally’s sense of smell 

was the real problem.

Your Sense Of Smell

Smell is an important sense. Certain 

smells can help you recall your dad’s 

cologne or alert you to danger, like 

smoke from a fire. When you can’t smell 

things you enjoy like morning coffee or 

flowers, part of life may seem very dull. 

As you get older, your sense of smell 

may fade. Your sense of smell is closely 

related to your sense of taste. So, when 

you can’t smell, food may taste bland, 

and you may lose interest in eating. 

What Causes Loss Of Smell?

Some things can cause a long lasting 

loss of smell. A head injury, for example, 

can damage the nerves related to smell. 

Protect yourself by wearing a seat belt 

in the car and a helmet when biking.

Some problems with smell only last 

for a short time and may be due to:

F A cold or flu that causes a stuffy 

nose that blocks your sense of smell. 

The ability to smell will come back 

when you’re better. 

F Allergies that block your sense of 

smell. Try to avoid things you’re allergic 

to, like pollen and pets. Talk to your 

doctor about how to manage your 

allergies.

F A harmless growth (called a polyp) 

in the nose or sinuses that gives you a 

runny nose. Having the growth removed 

may help.

F Some medications like antibiotics or 

blood pressure medicine may affect 

your sense of smell. Ask your doctor if 

there is another medicine you can take. 

F Radiation and chemotherapy 

treatments. Your sense of smell may 

return when treatment stops.

Sometimes, loss of the sense of 

smell may be a sign of a more serious 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Smell and Taste: 

Spice of Life

Sally looked forward to Thanksgiving 

dinner at her daughter’s house. But, when 

she ate the holiday food, she felt let down. 

It wasn’t as tasty as she remembered. Sally 

knew her daughter was a good cook. What 

was wrong? Maybe Sally’s sense of smell 

was the real problem.

Your Sense Of Smell

Smell is an important sense. Certain 

smells can help you recall your dad’s 

cologne or alert you to danger, like 

smoke from a fire. When you can’t smell 

things you enjoy like morning coffee or 

flowers, part of life may seem very dull. 

As you get older, your sense of smell 

may fade. Your sense of smell is closely 

related to your sense of taste. So, when 

you can’t smell, food may taste bland, 

and you may lose interest in eating. 

What Causes Loss Of Smell?

Some things can cause a long lasting 

loss of smell. A head injury, for example, 

can damage the nerves related to smell. 

Protect yourself by wearing a seat belt 

in the car and a helmet when biking.

Some problems with smell only last 

for a short time and may be due to:

F A cold or flu that causes a stuffy 

nose that blocks your sense of smell. 

The ability to smell will come back 

when you’re better. 

F Allergies that block your sense of 

smell. Try to avoid things you’re allergic 

to, like pollen and pets. Talk to your 

doctor about how to manage your 

allergies.

F A harmless growth (called a polyp) 

in the nose or sinuses that gives you a 

runny nose. Having the growth removed 

may help.

F Some medications like antibiotics or 

blood pressure medicine may affect 

your sense of smell. Ask your doctor if 

there is another medicine you can take. 

F Radiation and chemotherapy 

treatments. Your sense of smell may 

return when treatment stops.

Sometimes, loss of the sense of 

smell may be a sign of a more serious 
5 6 

You may prevent this problem by 

brushing your teeth, flossing, and 

using mouthwash. If you have a bad 

taste in your mouth that won’t go away, 

talk to your dentist.

Alcohol can alter the way food tastes. 

Cutting back or stopping drinking may 

help. Also, smoking can reduce your 

sense of taste. Quitting may help.

Cancer Treatments And Taste

People who are having cancer 

treatments might have a problem with 

taste. These treatments can make food 

taste bad or “off.” Some say that food 

tastes metallic. This funny taste may 

keep some people from eating healthy 

food. If this happens to you, try: 

F Eating four or five small meals during 

the day instead of three large meals

F Eating cold food, including yogurt, 

pudding, and jello. They may taste 

better than hot food. 

F Eating fresh, uncooked vegetables. 

Cooked vegetables often have 

strong odors that are not appealing.

F Drinking lots of fluids including 

water, weak tea, juice, and ginger ale

F Tasting new foods to find ones that 

you like 

Your sense of taste will usually 

return once your treatments stop.

Colors And Spices Can Help

If you’re having trouble smelling 

and tasting your food, try adding color 

and texture to make your food more 

interesting. For example, try eating 

brightly colored vegetables like carrots, 

spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, yellow 

squash, tomatoes, and red and green 

peppers. Also, if your diet allows, flavor 

your food with a little butter, olive oil, 

cheese, nuts, or some fresh herbs like 

parsley, rosemary, or sage. To put a 

zing in your food, add mustard, hot 

pepper, spices, or lemon or lime juice. 

Choose foods that look, smell, and 

taste good to you.

A Special Doctor for Smell 

and Taste

There are doctors that help treat 

problems with smell and taste. They are 

called otolaryngologists (oto-lar-yn-golo-gists). These doctors can help you 

cope with the loss of smell and taste. 

The doctor may ask:

F Can you smell anything at all? 

F Can you taste any food? 
5 6 

You may prevent this problem by 

brushing your teeth, flossing, and 

using mouthwash. If you have a bad 

taste in your mouth that won’t go away, 

talk to your dentist.

Alcohol can alter the way food tastes. 

Cutting back or stopping drinking may 

help. Also, smoking can reduce your 

sense of taste. Quitting may help.

Cancer Treatments And Taste

People who are having cancer 

treatments might have a problem with 

taste. These treatments can make food 

taste bad or “off.” Some say that food 

tastes metallic. This funny taste may 

keep some people from eating healthy 

food. If this happens to you, try: 

F Eating four or five small meals during 

the day instead of three large meals

F Eating cold food, including yogurt, 

pudding, and jello. They may taste 

better than hot food. 

F Eating fresh, uncooked vegetables. 

Cooked vegetables often have 

strong odors that are not appealing.

F Drinking lots of fluids including 

water, weak tea, juice, and ginger ale

F Tasting new foods to find ones that 

you like 

Your sense of taste will usually 

return once your treatments stop.

Colors And Spices Can Help

If you’re having trouble smelling 

and tasting your food, try adding color 

and texture to make your food more 

interesting. For example, try eating 

brightly colored vegetables like carrots, 

spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, yellow 

squash, tomatoes, and red and green 

peppers. Also, if your diet allows, flavor 

your food with a little butter, olive oil, 

cheese, nuts, or some fresh herbs like 

parsley, rosemary, or sage. To put a 

zing in your food, add mustard, hot 

pepper, spices, or lemon or lime juice. 

Choose foods that look, smell, and 

taste good to you.

A Special Doctor for Smell 

and Taste

There are doctors that help treat 

problems with smell and taste. They are 

called otolaryngologists (oto-lar-yn-golo-gists). These doctors can help you 

cope with the loss of smell and taste. 

The doctor may ask:

F Can you smell anything at all? 

F Can you taste any food?