Until I retired I was a Senior Creative Perfumer and am passionate about fragrance and the power of the sense of smell and how it affects every moment of our lives and enhances the world around us.

With 40 years’ experience in the fragrance industry, I thought I understood the sense of smell. Since becoming a Raising Awareness Volunteer with SmellTaste, I’ve learnt so much about how the sense of smell impacts on the quality of our daily lives. This only truly becomes apparent when you lose or experience smell loss.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to present the SmellTaste talk to local Women’s Institute (WI) groups, sharing information about smell and taste disorders, what SmellTaste do and how the charity supports suffers, their families and friends and also professionals.

One of the ways I engage my audience is through interactive ‘Smell Experiences’ which are fun but highlight the importance of smell and what it might be like to lose it. This helps people understand the importance of smell and sparks great conversations.

At my recent presentation to Blisworth WI, 23 wonderful women joined me for an evening of exploring scent and discussing the real-life impact of smell loss.

During the presentation I often see ‘lightbulb’ moments on people’s faces – they suddenly realise how much smell and taste disorders can affect a person’s life, from safety concerns to the joy of eating and the emotional impact of losing sensory memories.

When I finish the presentation the room fills with stories—people sharing experiences of loved ones who’ve lost their sense of smell, whether due to head injuries, pregnancy, or conditions like Parkinson’s. They will also come over to me to tell me their stories. I find this very humbling.

I’m able to offer practical advice, like signposting to the fantastic SmellTaste website, the smell training resources – which may help them regain or improve the sense of smell – and hand out SmellTaste leaflets and cards.

One attendee shared how her father lost his sense of smell, and it was only through our discussion that she realised how much it must have affected his quality of life. Another shared her struggle after losing her sense of smell during pregnancy, which added a layer of difficulty to new motherhood—she couldn’t smell a dirty nappy or check for gas leaks. She is going to try smell training.

I have also presented to Crick WI 19 members attended) and Little Billing WI (33 members attended). They shared similar stories of hyperosmia and hyposmia during pregnancy, anosmia caused by head injuries and loved ones who have lost their appetite and interest in food.

After every session, several ladies pick up leaflets. I also email the ‘Smell Safety’ leaflet to the group’s secretary to pass on to all WI members.

It feels great knowing the information is reaching more people.

These conversations are exactly why I’m so passionate about raising awareness—helping people understand the challenges of living without smell or taste and offering ways they can find support through the SmellTaste community.

Last week I gave a 15 minute precis of my presentation at the Northamptonshire WI County Federation’s Speaker Selection Evening and hope to be included in the Northamptonshire WI Speaker List.

I already have interest from two more WI groups!

What’s also exciting for me is developing the ‘Smell Experiences’. By using particular perfumery raw materials to demonstrate certain effects to show how the sense of smell works, how personal it is and what it might be like not to be able to smell. I’ve discussed ideas with my friend and fellow perfumer Marianne Martin, as always, she has great ideas and advice. It is lovely to work with her again.

We’re planning to hold training sessions with other SmellTaste Volunteers on how to carry out the ‘Smell Experiences’ safely when they do their own presentations.

Incorporating smell activities is a fantastic way to engage an audience, making the abstract challenges of smell loss more tangible and relatable.

Volunteering with SmellTaste is a rewarding experience, not only because I get to share my love for perfumery but also because I’m learning from every group I meet. Knowing that we’re helping others make a real connection to this undervalued sense means a great deal to me, it is such an important issue.

Working alongside the wonderful SmellTaste team, Marianne and the other volunteers has made it even more special, and I look forward to continuing to spread the word about the vital work SmellTaste is doing.

If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, I’d love to hear from you! You can find plenty of resources, including smell training and safety tips, on the SmellTaste website.

Together, we can raise awareness and make a difference for those living with smell and taste disorders.