Philadelphia A year ago I had a very bad head cold. As it cleared, I noticed I lost my since of smell. Recently I began smelling a foul smell in my nasal passage.
Nothing seems to help.
Smell is perceived by fine endings of the olfactory nerve high up in the nasal cavity. Obstructions that prevent scents from reaching the area can turn off the sense of smell and taste. That's medically known as anosmia. Almost everyone has had a congested nose that causes a temporary loss. Long-term loss can be due to nasal polyps, or tumors in the nasal cavity or near the olfactory nerves.