what is a heightened sense of smell a symptom of
Without your sense of smell, food tastes different, you can't smell the scent of a flower, and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation, unknowingly. For example, without the ability to detect odors, you wouldn't smell a gas leak, smoke from a fire, or sour milk.ther anosmia causes include: 1  Nasal polyps -- small noncancerous growths in the nose and sinuses that block the nasal passage. 2  Injury to the nose and smell nerves from surgery or head trauma. 3  Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides or solvents.