We host free ‘LetsTalkSmellAndTaste’ online support groups for people who:

• have never been able to smell
• have lost their sense of smell or taste
• who can smell, but who are experiencing smell or taste disturbances

These support groups provide an open, supportive and relaxed environment for people affected by smell and taste disorders to share their thoughts, feelings and tips with others who understand.  You don’t need to be a SmellTaste member to join a group, although we would encourage you to join us so that you receive information about upcoming events. 

Each group runs three times a year and is hosted by SmellTaste & trained volunteer co-hosts.  These meetings are not recorded or shared. This is so that those joining us can talk freely in a safe and supportive setting. 

If you are supporting a family member or friends with a smell or taste disorder you are very welcome to attend to find out more about the impact of the disorder and how you can help. Our support groups are not suitable for people under 18, but many parents find this a helpful way to gain a deeper understanding of what their child is experiencing and how they can help.

LTSAT Support Group | Never been able to smell

This support group is for people who were born without a sense of smell (congenital anosmia) or have no memory of ever being able to smell as a child because they lost their sense of smell in early childhood, for example, due to a virus or a head injury (acquired anosmia).  It does not matter whether or not the person has a diagnosis.  This event will provide an open, supportive and relaxed environment to learn more and share thoughts and feelings about living without ever having had a sense of smell.

LTSAT Support Group | Loss of smell / taste

This support group is for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste, whatever the cause and whether or not the cause of the loss is known or has been diagnosed. Medics may refer to smell loss as acquired anosmia, or to a reduced sense of smell as hyposmia or functional anosmia.  They may refer to taste loss as ageusia or to a reduced sense of taste as hypogeusia.  The event will provide an open, supportive and relaxed environment to learn more and share thoughts, feelings and tips about living with smell and taste loss.

LTSAT Support Group | Disturbances in smell / taste

This support group is for people who are experiencing experiencing disturbances in their sense of smell and / or taste, whatever the cause or whether it has been diagnosed. Medics may refer to a distorted sense of smell as parosmia, to smelling things that aren’t there as phantosmia, and to a heighted sense of smell as hyperosmia.  They may refer to a disturbed sense of taste as parageusia or dysgeusia. The event will provide an open, supportive and relaxed environment to learn more and share thoughts, feelings and tips about living with smell and taste disturbance.

Please join the support group which most closely mirrors your experience.  If you are unsure which #LTSAT support group is right for you, please watch these short videos on our YouTube channel: Prof Carl Philpott explains ‘The Osmias’.

• Prof Carl Philpott explains Congenital Anosmia

• Prof Carl Philpott explains Acquired Anosmia

• Prof Carl Philpott explains Phantosmia and Parosmia

• Prof Carl Philpott explains Olfactory Intolerance and a heightened sense of smell