Loss of smell but not taste

The tongue detects basic tastes such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savoury. Smell supplies much of the detail people call flavour, including the aroma of herbs or fruit. That is why meals can seem less enjoyable while basic tastes remain clear.

A blocked nose from a cold, allergic rhinitis or sinus inflammation can reduce smell without removing tongue sensation. Viral illness, nasal polyps, head injury, some medicines and less common nerve-related problems can also affect smell. A change in smell does not identify its cause by itself.

Check whether one or both nostrils feel blocked and note any recent infection, allergy flare, injury or new medicine. Avoid smoke and strong chemical fumes. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice, even if you suspect it is contributing.

Take care around smoke, gas and spoiled food because smell is a safety sense. Choose food with varied textures and temperatures if meals feel bland, while keeping hydration and nutrition in mind. A clinician can examine the nose and review your history if the change is persistent, troubling or unexplained.

Seek urgent care for sudden smell loss with weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe headache, confusion or other neurological symptoms. Seek prompt advice after a significant head injury, or with severe facial swelling, high fever or breathing difficulty.

Arrange a routine appointment when smell does not return as the congestion or infection improves, or when you notice persistent distortion, repeated nosebleeds or one-sided blockage. Assessment can guide treatment and protect daily safety.

Is my nasal lining swollen, inflamed or obstructed? Could an infection, allergy, medicine or past injury explain the pattern? Should I use nasal treatment or smell training, and what change would mean I need follow-up?