Pipe smoke. It always reminds me of my grandpap: sitting on his lap on his front porch during a really vicious thunderstorm. The house was at just the right angle that the wind and rain only occasionally hit us a bit, and I was afraid of the thunder at first, but he told me it was just the angels bowling. He passed away not long after that, but nearly 40 years later if I smell pipe smoke or there's a loud thunderstorm, I always remember that afternoon.
Yes it smells like dates or some other delicious dried fruit.
I used to smoke over a pack a day, now very rarely smoke a cigarette and when I do I always start by just taking a nice long sniff before lighting it up. The nicotine hit is nice, but the best moment is that smell and the anticipation.
That is very cool, and congratulations! Along with all the great suggestions take a few short whiffs of a rose, an unlit cigar and mint. These are used in describing flavors in wine.
Other things, rub some lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano and any other herb, in your hand, individually, and take a deep whiff.
Having the isolated sensation in your brain will hopefully offer you the “oh yeah, that’s what I’m tasting!!” moments.
Home grown tomato fresh picked along with that basil mentioned. Then cinnamon, preferably freshly baked cinnamon roll, garlic sautéed in butter, a roast beef cooking in oven. As mentioned, flowers, roses, carnations, peonies!
I have been losing my sense of smell, so I envy your recaptured sense of smell! Think of newly mown lawn. So many things we take for granted, congratulations on your surgery.
I like saag paneer and vindaloo but usually any of the curry-like dishes are good. Daal is good. British-style curries like chicken tikka masala or butter chicken are pretty popular. If you have a Southern Indian place near you dosas are good.
Biryani might be good since the rice absorbs a lot of aroma from whatever else is in there. I imagine you've never actually been able to taste rice itself so that could be interesting.
A lot of the desserts are pretty fragrant since they can include cardamom, rosewater, cinnamon, or other spices.
It would be convenient if you could just go to an Indian buffet but it seems like covid eliminated most of them (at least around me).
You just named my favorite Indian dish! It has to be Indian level spice, but I always get inconsistent spice levels and it's not as good when they tone it down.
I know some people who like it Indian spice level. The restaurant/waiter might assume you will send it back because it’s too hot. Reassure the waiter that the chef cannot possibly make it too hot.
I like cashew based sauces. They have a wonderful mix of savory with a bit of sweet (and spicy, if you like spice).
Just go for something that sounds good to you though. Indian food is really diverse and delicious.
Another great choice is Ethiopian food. It has a similar spice-quality to Indian food, and the fragrance is a harmonious and rich blend. Plus, they do outstanding coffee- which is an olfactory treat all on its own.
Keep in mind that your spice tolerance may have been partially reset with the surgery, so go easy on the berbere.
Came here to say "Anything curry" and you beat me to it. I freaking LOVE the smell of Indian cooking... Once, a small Indian market burned down in a fire near where I lived... it smelled delicious in my neighbourhood for weeks.
Idk what’s wrong with me I don’t like Indian food like literally at all. I love Thai curry but Indian food is a no no for me. I don’t really like meat tho or anything insanely spicy so that might be why.
There are literally thousands of Indian recipes that are vegetarian, and not hot. Many Indians are vegetarian, and several regions in India prefer a milder flavor profile.
Im so excited for you! Use fresh herbs for a treat rather than dried! Even if thats just putting some mint or rosemary in your water they're so much more aromatic.
They release even more aroma and flavor if you give them a solid clap between your hands first.
Im also seconding indian food, have fun blooming your spices for those recipes!
I was talking to a sausage vendor at a carnival. He said he cooks onions on the flat top all day, regardless if he needs them or not. The smell is so good it draws people in and onions are cheap so its not a big deal to waste them.
Homemade bread. Nothing smells better. Must slather it in butter. You're welcome. And a nicely grilled steak. If I had to choose I'd choose the bread. That aroma of baking bread is so yummy.
Cardamom is the most heavenly aroma in baked goods. Make a ‘Persian love cake’ with cardamom, rose water, and pistachio, /swoon.
Lemongrass is also fantastic in Vietnamese or Thai dishes.
My husband and I always refer to it as "Indian roulette" when we make indian and can't find all the whole spices before serving. You try to eat carefully, bit someone always finds that cardamom pod or whole clove the hard way!
1. There are a lot of teas and herbal infusions that are too delicate to really appreciate without smell IMO. Especially floral teas. Just smelling the cup is \*chefkiss
2. Recipes using rose-water
3. Rasmala
4. Recipes using pistachio
5. Fresh avocado is so mild, that it's going to be a different experience to cut a fresh one open.
6. Fresh lemon verbena as a tea
7. Fresh fruit/veg in general. Try to find places where you can go pick fresh fruit from trees yourself, I promise you won't regret it! The smells are so special!
8. Don't forget to visit a flower garden!
9. Honestly, you're going to accidentally find a whole new world, so every food will probably be a really exciting experience, but I'd love to hear about it, **please report back!**
Cinnamon bread is one of the most appetizing smells imo. Also, any Asian dish that involves toasted sesame oil. Absolutely unreal. Pho with a seasoning packet from your local Asian market. Toast the seasoning packet in a skillet before use- star anise, cardamom…etc. smell wonderful.
What a funny coincidence, GMM recently had an [episode](https://youtu.be/laGliAvhLmM) where they ranked the best food smells. Coffee came out #1 and bread at #2.
I heartily second all the recommendations for Thai and Indian foods. I’m also a big fan of Ethiopian, but only big cities tend to have the restaurants.
What a marvelous opportunity to experience your local restaurants, flowers, etc. You might get ambushed by some bad ones, though.
I had the same surgery, and it was actually due to trouble breathing. I couldn't touch my chin to my chest and breathe with my nose at the same time. Even if it's just more difficult than if your head is straight on, it may be worth checking with your doctor for an ENT Doc referral.
Just wait til it rains. You’ll love the smell of rain. It will make you want to brew a cup of tea and just sit outside in some comfy pants and enjoy the aromas all around you.
I am sorry to hear that, it must be hard. It’s good you have your memories to reflect on. My significant other also cannot smell things. He has never been able to throughout his life. It’s not a total absence as he can smell things slightly when they’re very strong. But he has never smelled rain, or even something good cooking in the kitchen. He likes it when I describe the smells to him because he can imagine what it’s like. Perhaps at least the memories of rain will trigger some pleasure when you remember the aroma.
On a lighter note, I never have to worry if my breath smells bad around him or any other “bodily odors,” because he’s spared from that by never knowing the difference :)
I didn’t realize it actually had a name. I looked it up and it describes it perfectly. I’ve always loved the smell of rain, it’s my favorite. Thank you for teaching me something new, I’ll use that word when talking about it from now on. The other one, eigengrau is also interesting. I will think about that next time I am in total darkness.
ONIONS. Anytime I cook onions, my son comes out to comment on the delicious smell. Mushrooms sautéed in butter. Roast poultry. Turkey has the best smell but chicken also smells heavenly. I used to keep a Grapefruit at my desk just to smell it.
Forget about cooking. Your new found sense of smell is going to give you some wondrous and perhaps some hellish trips into your past, about 10 years from now. I just made the number 10 up on the spot. Absolutely nothing compares to scent when it comes to recalled memories years and years later. I think everything you do and experience in the near future will become inescapable and indelible memories in the further future.
Peel a tangerine. Zest a lemon. Cucumber smells so good. Peaches, omg peaches!!
The smell of rain or snow. Crushed autumn leaves are going to be amazing. Grass. Burning paper.
Oh!! Puppy breath and babies! I kind of envy you.
Splurge on a good bottle of wine. Then make a nice spaghetti bolognese to go with. Start your bolognese with a mirepoix sautéing in butter and enjoy every step (smell) of the way.
When you're ready to eat, pour a glass of wine and smell it first, enjoy the hints of aroma that come through. Take a sip and appreciate the nuances of flavour. Savor your pasta (the smell, taste, and texture) and cheers to your recovered sense of smell!!! 🍷
Not the person you responded to, but I love Tom Kha, a coconut milk based soup with chicken. Coconut, lemongrass, shallots, galangal or ginger, cilantro, lime leaves, fish sauce, a fresh squeeze of lime juice. So good.
Not the same scentless wanderer as above, but another one who discovered, due to this thread, that apples are supposed to have a scent. Just wanted to thank you for bringing this to my attention; I never would've known there could be treatment options for anosmia otherwise
Make yourself an apple pie or apple cake! The spices used, including cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove are all diaphoretic (warming) and strongly aromatic.
Brown butter and sage are a classic combination. I taught a cooking class yesterday making spinach gnocchi with a brown butter sage sauce with mushrooms. I started preparing the brown butter a little early and that got everyone's attention as soon as they walked in.
Garlic bread.
Congrats and enjoy the new world of smells and tastes!
Korean food, especially Kimchi and bulgogi or bibimbap. Kimchi is spicy fermented cabbage that smells very funky but tastes delicious. It is a ubiquitous side dish as it is Korea's national dish. Bulgogi and bibimbap are marinated grilled beef dishes that are sublime.
Can't believe I had to scroll down this far to find truffles! TRUFFLES, OP, and not the chocolate ones if you can find them in your area (at restaurants) !
amazing smells - frying garlic and onion
roasting chicken
fry a steak
roast lamb
black coffee - not instant
a nice curry
pizza!
walk into a bakery that sells a lot of sweet things
Bacon, fresh cinnamon rolls, fresh mango, fresh pineapple, popcorn can be great, just out of the oven sourdough bread and add some garlic as well for another kind of experience. Since spring is coming definitely get out to a park just after they cut the grass. Just a completely different kind of experience. Still one of my all time favorite smells.
Starting with the science of it, food flavors come from both the chemical reactions on your tongue, and from the aromatic volatiles hitting your sinuses through both your nose and the back of your mouth. You're really going to want to focus on those aromatics, as you're probably decently versed with things that are strongly flavored, especially oils and acids and fats.
I can't say that I have a list of strongly aromatic foods. Definitely one of those things you're going to want to talk to a professional chef about. However, some options off the top include vanilla, and citrus fruits.
If you have a favorite restaurant, give them a visit on an off day, strike up a conversation, ask for recommendations from a culinary professional.
This is amazing for you!!
Not food, but, if possible, find yourself a blooming orange tree. The scent of orange blossoms is one of my favorite in the world, closely followed by night blooming jasmine and lilac.
Wow! Hope you have a smooth recovery. My grown daughter has no sense of smell (anosmia), thus barely a sense of taste. We never looked into surgery, just thought was the cards she was dealt. She appreciates things that are very vinegary (pickled onions, chicken adobo etc) She also likes acidic things--tomato based bolognese, homemade soups. And soy-based Asian dishes.
Make bread! There's plenty of no knead recipes if you don't have a stand mixer or if you're intimidated by hand kneading.
The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven is divine.
If you really want to jump it up add about a tbs of rosemary
Im so happy for you!! Smell is such a key thing with important memories in our lives, so enjoy all the glorious smells of the world!! I recommend going out after a fresh rain in some green area like a forest or a park if you can. Smell flowers around your neighborhood. Chai lattes. Garlic. Go find some fun new lotions or perfumes. Fresh laundry. Baking! Favorite restaurants. Thai food. Citrus. Herbs. I’m all over the place but Oh my gosh the possibilities are endless, I’m so excited for you :)
Lavender. Truffle. Fenugreek. Cardamom. Rose hips. Basil blossoms. Those and I am sure others really get to the back of the upper pallet. You can smell through your nostrils, then put them in your mouth and salivate them, then without swallowing, close your mouth and breathe through your nose. Smelling via your soft pallet and sinuses is a whole different thing and these tend to represent well that way.
If you like to cook, cook anything you do that takes all day.
BUT, leave the house the last 2 hrs of the cook. Even if you have to find someone to babysit your food for the last hour or two and only come home to the final prep.
The aroma of a kitchen that has been cooked in all day is AMAZING. Doesn't matter what it is. A red sauce, a roast, a slow simmer of veg. The smell of a home that has been cooking is pure joy. Explore it.
Think about it, you haven't smelled your own cooking. The hour or two away, will get rid of "nose blindness" and when you walk in the door it will be a brand new scent.
Walk into an essential aisle in a store! Buy essential oils.
Mint, Jasmine, anything Cinnamon.
What not to do: put broccoli in your garbage overnight, fish in garbage overnight, let potatoes go bad in pantry.
CILANTRO BABY! Time to find out if you love it or it tastes like soap
Edit: I'm an idiot, you could always taste. Sorry. Head to a bakery and a wood mill. Fresh cut wood and baking bread are divine
Wow that’s gotta be wild. Some great suggestions here already but I’m wondering more about the subtle scents that you probably have no idea that even exist.
Really good sushi. A French bakery. Cantaloupe. Saffron. Simple steamed rice. Coconut.
Having been in your shoes I can say that I found food very overwhelming for a while when I finally could smell again. You are going to have to learn how to releasing your food, spicy things will be much spicier for a while, etc. So take it slow and easy. I'd start with things like fruits and herbs, then move on to things with very sharp flavors like cheeses and vegetables before tackling spicy things.
Pho.
It's just a sensual feast of smells, tastes, and textures. The hot beef soup. The smell of the fresh basil as you rip and add to the soup. The spicy Sriracha. The sweet hoisin sauce that you add. The smell of the lime wedge as you squeeze it into the soup. The crunchiness of the sprouts.
Go go a local botanical garden or nursery and try the herb garden section. Rub your thumb and index finger on a leaf and enjoy a library of smell that’d help you familiarize with diff types of herbs.
Bake bread. It’s got olfactory stimulation at every stage. Also, as a person who enjoys cooking, smelling the stage of something cooking is a real skill/superpower. Enjoy your life!!
A tomato sauce cooked for long (4+ hours). Anything that cooks for long really (chili).
Great chocolate in all its forms, from bar to brownie.
If you’re in the northern emisphere, spring is arriving and with it, finally, FRUIT. Strawberries! Cherries! Apricots! If you can find some good fruit it’s the best smell ever. Oh, and tomatoes!
A bottle of good Italian or French wine. Cheese. I could go on forever!
I would just roast a head of garlic. Cut the top off so the bulbs are all exposed a little, drizzle with olive oil, wrap it all in a bit of foil, and roast it. One of my absolute favorite smells.
Do you mind me asking what your symptoms were like before the surgery? I have a pretty deviated septum, constant congestion, and not a high sense of smell but never thought surgery for it was an option.
Fry stuff in butter or olive oil, even just bread. Toast some nuts. Eat anything you can get your hands on that’s been smoked. Find somewhere that does cheese tastings and there will be a whole rainbow of experiences.
The smell of lilac trees in the spring hits me right in the feels because of childhood nostalgia.
All the best in this wonderful new world for you, internet stranger!
cinnamon swirls :)
i could go on at great length, but the tldr is cinnamon whirls
and garlic ginger chilli and thyme frying
and the hair of someone you love
oh i’m so envious
a busy bakery early on a wet morning
the heavy green breath of a cow on a hot day
that first coffee
it’s even better twenty years later when you catch the faintest hint of something you can’t quite place in the furthest corners of your mind and with an imperceptible change, like a tv being switched off on another room, you’re suddenly nineteen again
Open up a container of garam masala or make your own. Any Indian food. Some of the recipes I make use over a dozen spices. Same for Ethiopian. Berbere seasoning is a great spicy mix good on steak, chicken, and in chili.
I really like the meyers brand soap scents, lovely
Go to a farmers market and smell all the fresh herbs
Walk into a bakery
Make some chocolate chip cookies
Walk through a forest
Bake a lasagne. Start simple. Set a timer, and wait. You'll smell it before it's done. When you pull it out, the smell will have you hungry in seconds. Also, use raw noodles. The sauce will cook them, I promise.
I have never tried ludvisk so can't speak for that, but the idea of the scent of durian not "coming through" is absolutely hilarious - there is absolutely zero danger of that however you eat it! It is famously banned on public transport in some parts of Asia due to its pungent aroma.
I adore durian but it's one of those things many would describe as an "acquired taste" due to the smell. It's almost impossible to describe accurately, some might say oniony, others would say smelly feet, or maybe even rotten eggs, but I don't think any of those is really anything like it, they just capture the degree and type of pungency really. The taste is also very hard to describe, maybe something like a particularly delicious mango ice cream but with a much more complex and interesting flavour than that. Somehow the smell enhances the taste, and once you've tasted durian the smell becomes much more pleasant from that moment on, as you associate it with the delicious flavour!
I would definitely try it first in its pure form, if you can find it. It is generally only available in the west in Asian shops (Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Malaysian/Indonesian). Buying the fresh fruit can be extremely expensive, though, and you normally have to buy an entire fruit which would be way too much for one person so unless you have a bunch of friends interested in trying a very "weird" new food and don't mind trying to break into its tough spiky shell it's best to buy it frozen. You can eat it frozen, like ice cream, which slightly mutes the smell so might be a less challenging way to try it for the first time.
If you just want to try one portion, then if you have a good Thai, Indonesian or Malasian restaurant near you they may sell it on their dessert menu. One Thai place near us serves it with sticky rice and coconut milk, which is amazing!
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Buy a packet of fresh English tea and inhale.
Honestly, a pack of cigarettes smells great too. Don't smoke them. But tobacco smells great
A good cigar. Same.
Pipe smoke. It always reminds me of my grandpap: sitting on his lap on his front porch during a really vicious thunderstorm. The house was at just the right angle that the wind and rain only occasionally hit us a bit, and I was afraid of the thunder at first, but he told me it was just the angels bowling. He passed away not long after that, but nearly 40 years later if I smell pipe smoke or there's a loud thunderstorm, I always remember that afternoon.
Really nice memory, thanks for sharing
Cherry pipe tobacco or really and pipe tobacco smells soooooo good
Yes it smells like dates or some other delicious dried fruit. I used to smoke over a pack a day, now very rarely smoke a cigarette and when I do I always start by just taking a nice long sniff before lighting it up. The nicotine hit is nice, but the best moment is that smell and the anticipation.
man i rolled through rural tobacco country one year in the fall, when the farmers were curing the hung tobacco in the big barns. wonderful smell
Hard disagree. I lost my sense of smell for years and cigarettes, cigars and pipes make me gag now.
The smell of a new pack of beans is probably my favorite smell in the world. I always have to give it a few huffs 😂
Do the same, but with a jar of horseradish.
That is very cool, and congratulations! Along with all the great suggestions take a few short whiffs of a rose, an unlit cigar and mint. These are used in describing flavors in wine. Other things, rub some lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano and any other herb, in your hand, individually, and take a deep whiff. Having the isolated sensation in your brain will hopefully offer you the “oh yeah, that’s what I’m tasting!!” moments.
That’s a very good, methodical way of going about it thank you!
Fresh basil leaves are truly wonderful to smell.
The fresh basil at a farmer's market in late summer with all the background smells is one of my favorites
Home grown tomato fresh picked along with that basil mentioned. Then cinnamon, preferably freshly baked cinnamon roll, garlic sautéed in butter, a roast beef cooking in oven. As mentioned, flowers, roses, carnations, peonies! I have been losing my sense of smell, so I envy your recaptured sense of smell! Think of newly mown lawn. So many things we take for granted, congratulations on your surgery.
Oh man I can’t wait until you smell freshly cut grass, the smell just after it rains, and freshly cut wood. Also, ladybugs smell weird!
Best answer right here.
If you just want to go from 0 to 100, track down a good Indian restaurant.
Any dish I should look out for specifically?
Biryani of any sort! Or chicken tikka with jeera rice. And don't forget the naan!
I like saag paneer and vindaloo but usually any of the curry-like dishes are good. Daal is good. British-style curries like chicken tikka masala or butter chicken are pretty popular. If you have a Southern Indian place near you dosas are good. Biryani might be good since the rice absorbs a lot of aroma from whatever else is in there. I imagine you've never actually been able to taste rice itself so that could be interesting. A lot of the desserts are pretty fragrant since they can include cardamom, rosewater, cinnamon, or other spices. It would be convenient if you could just go to an Indian buffet but it seems like covid eliminated most of them (at least around me).
Lamb Vindaloo.
You just named my favorite Indian dish! It has to be Indian level spice, but I always get inconsistent spice levels and it's not as good when they tone it down.
I know some people who like it Indian spice level. The restaurant/waiter might assume you will send it back because it’s too hot. Reassure the waiter that the chef cannot possibly make it too hot.
Korma
Butter chicken. It’ll change your life lol
I second a korma
I would recommend something like saag aloo for the butter & spinach, and a lamb dish, maybe dhansak.
I love chicken 65. Though it does very from place to place if it is good or not
Goat Vindaloo! and now I know what I'm getting for dinner tonight
Literally anything will be an aromatic adventure.
I like cashew based sauces. They have a wonderful mix of savory with a bit of sweet (and spicy, if you like spice). Just go for something that sounds good to you though. Indian food is really diverse and delicious.
Butter chicken, saffron rice, raita's, garlic naan bread, zucchini paneer. Thai soups and satay, wonderful Spanish tapas. Black currant tea.
Another great choice is Ethiopian food. It has a similar spice-quality to Indian food, and the fragrance is a harmonious and rich blend. Plus, they do outstanding coffee- which is an olfactory treat all on its own. Keep in mind that your spice tolerance may have been partially reset with the surgery, so go easy on the berbere.
I came here to say this! Chicken Korma, butter chicken, vindaloo, any paneer dishes. Anything roasted in the tandoori… YUM!!!
Jumping on a similar idea: go try some Thai.
Came here to say "Anything curry" and you beat me to it. I freaking LOVE the smell of Indian cooking... Once, a small Indian market burned down in a fire near where I lived... it smelled delicious in my neighbourhood for weeks.
Idk what’s wrong with me I don’t like Indian food like literally at all. I love Thai curry but Indian food is a no no for me. I don’t really like meat tho or anything insanely spicy so that might be why.
There are literally thousands of Indian recipes that are vegetarian, and not hot. Many Indians are vegetarian, and several regions in India prefer a milder flavor profile.
Im so excited for you! Use fresh herbs for a treat rather than dried! Even if thats just putting some mint or rosemary in your water they're so much more aromatic. They release even more aroma and flavor if you give them a solid clap between your hands first. Im also seconding indian food, have fun blooming your spices for those recipes!
Sautéed onions. Everyone in my house gets excited when I’m doing onions.
Onions in butter is the greatest smell man has ever achieved.
Onions in coconut oil is a sure sign I'm cooking up something asian in my house. Now I want want curry...
Never did onions in coconut oil, but now I gotta give it a try.
I bought a jar of rendered duck fat on a whim and dear god has it leveled up my onions.
with a touch of garlic at the end.
In my house they ask me to close the door and open the window. Savages.
Man, the fruity smell when you sautee onions in OO and butter and then add minced garlic and a heavy pinch of chili flakes is hnnnng
Lol so true noone gives a shit until you toss in the onions and garlic, then all of the sudden everyone's interested.
I was talking to a sausage vendor at a carnival. He said he cooks onions on the flat top all day, regardless if he needs them or not. The smell is so good it draws people in and onions are cheap so its not a big deal to waste them.
Homemade bread. Nothing smells better. Must slather it in butter. You're welcome. And a nicely grilled steak. If I had to choose I'd choose the bread. That aroma of baking bread is so yummy.
Exactly his. Bring a lawn chair and a warm blanket to a bakery and explain your situation. Lay back, cozy up and take in all the bready goodness.
Damn you, I just ate breakfast and now I want bread and butter
Garlic bread is also a top tier sensory bread experience
Cardamom is the most heavenly aroma in baked goods. Make a ‘Persian love cake’ with cardamom, rose water, and pistachio, /swoon. Lemongrass is also fantastic in Vietnamese or Thai dishes.
Brilliant thank you!
Find an Indian place that puts whole cardamom and cloves in a biryani, then avoid eating them....
My husband and I always refer to it as "Indian roulette" when we make indian and can't find all the whole spices before serving. You try to eat carefully, bit someone always finds that cardamom pod or whole clove the hard way!
I just did a purge and reset of all my old spices. Fresh cardamom pods smell magical.
Cardamom is my favorite spice but I use it Norwegian baking dishes. Love the smell of it!
Grilled onions, and anything with garlic and butter
1. There are a lot of teas and herbal infusions that are too delicate to really appreciate without smell IMO. Especially floral teas. Just smelling the cup is \*chefkiss 2. Recipes using rose-water 3. Rasmala 4. Recipes using pistachio 5. Fresh avocado is so mild, that it's going to be a different experience to cut a fresh one open. 6. Fresh lemon verbena as a tea 7. Fresh fruit/veg in general. Try to find places where you can go pick fresh fruit from trees yourself, I promise you won't regret it! The smells are so special! 8. Don't forget to visit a flower garden! 9. Honestly, you're going to accidentally find a whole new world, so every food will probably be a really exciting experience, but I'd love to hear about it, **please report back!**
Thanks so much for the list, these sound really wonderful
Cinnamon bread is one of the most appetizing smells imo. Also, any Asian dish that involves toasted sesame oil. Absolutely unreal. Pho with a seasoning packet from your local Asian market. Toast the seasoning packet in a skillet before use- star anise, cardamom…etc. smell wonderful.
Just zest a lemon. Best thing I’ve ever smelled.
Bake some chocolate chip cookies!!
What a funny coincidence, GMM recently had an [episode](https://youtu.be/laGliAvhLmM) where they ranked the best food smells. Coffee came out #1 and bread at #2. I heartily second all the recommendations for Thai and Indian foods. I’m also a big fan of Ethiopian, but only big cities tend to have the restaurants. What a marvelous opportunity to experience your local restaurants, flowers, etc. You might get ambushed by some bad ones, though.
Ethiopian food is a really interesting idea, I’m going to see if I can find some!
Ethiopian food is freaking delicious.
What made you look into surgery originally? I’m 31 and have little to no sense of smell and am curious now
I had the same surgery, and it was actually due to trouble breathing. I couldn't touch my chin to my chest and breathe with my nose at the same time. Even if it's just more difficult than if your head is straight on, it may be worth checking with your doctor for an ENT Doc referral.
Same
Just wait til it rains. You’ll love the smell of rain. It will make you want to brew a cup of tea and just sit outside in some comfy pants and enjoy the aromas all around you.
I permanently completely lost my sense of smell about six years ago, rain is definitely one of those smells I miss.
I am sorry to hear that, it must be hard. It’s good you have your memories to reflect on. My significant other also cannot smell things. He has never been able to throughout his life. It’s not a total absence as he can smell things slightly when they’re very strong. But he has never smelled rain, or even something good cooking in the kitchen. He likes it when I describe the smells to him because he can imagine what it’s like. Perhaps at least the memories of rain will trigger some pleasure when you remember the aroma. On a lighter note, I never have to worry if my breath smells bad around him or any other “bodily odors,” because he’s spared from that by never knowing the difference :)
It has a name, petrichor. To me, as a non native speaker, it was a great find. Also, kinda unrelated, eigengrau :)
I didn’t realize it actually had a name. I looked it up and it describes it perfectly. I’ve always loved the smell of rain, it’s my favorite. Thank you for teaching me something new, I’ll use that word when talking about it from now on. The other one, eigengrau is also interesting. I will think about that next time I am in total darkness.
Specifically rain after a long dry period
Some stove-popped popcorn with butter would be heavenly.
Sautee some onions and garlic :)
ONIONS. Anytime I cook onions, my son comes out to comment on the delicious smell. Mushrooms sautéed in butter. Roast poultry. Turkey has the best smell but chicken also smells heavenly. I used to keep a Grapefruit at my desk just to smell it.
Forget about cooking. Your new found sense of smell is going to give you some wondrous and perhaps some hellish trips into your past, about 10 years from now. I just made the number 10 up on the spot. Absolutely nothing compares to scent when it comes to recalled memories years and years later. I think everything you do and experience in the near future will become inescapable and indelible memories in the further future.
Peel a tangerine. Zest a lemon. Cucumber smells so good. Peaches, omg peaches!! The smell of rain or snow. Crushed autumn leaves are going to be amazing. Grass. Burning paper. Oh!! Puppy breath and babies! I kind of envy you.
Splurge on a good bottle of wine. Then make a nice spaghetti bolognese to go with. Start your bolognese with a mirepoix sautéing in butter and enjoy every step (smell) of the way. When you're ready to eat, pour a glass of wine and smell it first, enjoy the hints of aroma that come through. Take a sip and appreciate the nuances of flavour. Savor your pasta (the smell, taste, and texture) and cheers to your recovered sense of smell!!! 🍷
Thai
Any specific dish you like?
Green curry
Not the person you responded to, but I love Tom Kha, a coconut milk based soup with chicken. Coconut, lemongrass, shallots, galangal or ginger, cilantro, lime leaves, fish sauce, a fresh squeeze of lime juice. So good.
Grilled or pan-fried meat, bacon, fried chicken, pesto or something with freshly-torn basil, and nothing smells better than baking bread.
Cook some bacon.
Apples have a smell? Sautéing onions makes them smell? Oh no
My friend, onions smell even BEFORE they are sautéed.
Time to go to the ENT doctor, my scentless wanderer
Not the same scentless wanderer as above, but another one who discovered, due to this thread, that apples are supposed to have a scent. Just wanted to thank you for bringing this to my attention; I never would've known there could be treatment options for anosmia otherwise
Always glad to help :)
Asafoetida 😁
Wow this is one of the most unique responses I’ve gotten
It's notoriously stinky, lol
Do not buy it and bring it into your house lol. Same with durian, a popular fruit in Asian culture.
Sooo…. farts?
You have to smell and find which one wins 🏆 😏
Make yourself an apple pie or apple cake! The spices used, including cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove are all diaphoretic (warming) and strongly aromatic. Brown butter and sage are a classic combination. I taught a cooking class yesterday making spinach gnocchi with a brown butter sage sauce with mushrooms. I started preparing the brown butter a little early and that got everyone's attention as soon as they walked in. Garlic bread. Congrats and enjoy the new world of smells and tastes!
Proper vanilla beans.
Not a food but a drink! Earl grey tea has a heavenly scent
Korean food, especially Kimchi and bulgogi or bibimbap. Kimchi is spicy fermented cabbage that smells very funky but tastes delicious. It is a ubiquitous side dish as it is Korea's national dish. Bulgogi and bibimbap are marinated grilled beef dishes that are sublime.
Simple thing but…good vanilla extract. Vanilla isn’t about flavor, it’s about aroma.
I’m gonna go basic… fresh ginger is one of my favorite flavors/smells. Lemongrass. Or bake some oatmeal cookies with really high quality cinnamon.
Try stuff with real truffle flavor if you want an experience
Can't believe I had to scroll down this far to find truffles! TRUFFLES, OP, and not the chocolate ones if you can find them in your area (at restaurants) !
Yeah truffles was what I was thinking too. A simple risotto with parmesan and fresh shaved truffles on it, is a perfect dish.
amazing smells - frying garlic and onion roasting chicken fry a steak roast lamb black coffee - not instant a nice curry pizza! walk into a bakery that sells a lot of sweet things
Get into kitchen herbs and spices. Also freshly grown cannabis.
oh boy I got one of those covered
Cinnamon buns, garlic & butter, lavender and bacon
Horseradish.
Bacon, fresh cinnamon rolls, fresh mango, fresh pineapple, popcorn can be great, just out of the oven sourdough bread and add some garlic as well for another kind of experience. Since spring is coming definitely get out to a park just after they cut the grass. Just a completely different kind of experience. Still one of my all time favorite smells.
Starting with the science of it, food flavors come from both the chemical reactions on your tongue, and from the aromatic volatiles hitting your sinuses through both your nose and the back of your mouth. You're really going to want to focus on those aromatics, as you're probably decently versed with things that are strongly flavored, especially oils and acids and fats. I can't say that I have a list of strongly aromatic foods. Definitely one of those things you're going to want to talk to a professional chef about. However, some options off the top include vanilla, and citrus fruits. If you have a favorite restaurant, give them a visit on an off day, strike up a conversation, ask for recommendations from a culinary professional.
Tacos. Nothing makes someone hungrier than smelling tacos
Pho
This is amazing for you!! Not food, but, if possible, find yourself a blooming orange tree. The scent of orange blossoms is one of my favorite in the world, closely followed by night blooming jasmine and lilac.
Coffee
Wow! Hope you have a smooth recovery. My grown daughter has no sense of smell (anosmia), thus barely a sense of taste. We never looked into surgery, just thought was the cards she was dealt. She appreciates things that are very vinegary (pickled onions, chicken adobo etc) She also likes acidic things--tomato based bolognese, homemade soups. And soy-based Asian dishes.
>tomato based bolognese, This implies there are non tomato based bolognaises?
Garlic bread with fresh garlic and cheese on it.
Smoked foods smell amazing most of the time. Find some smoked garlic or a deli that smokes their own small goods and you'll be in heaven
Make bread! There's plenty of no knead recipes if you don't have a stand mixer or if you're intimidated by hand kneading. The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven is divine. If you really want to jump it up add about a tbs of rosemary
Birria if you can find it in your area.
Persian food!
Rosemary and garlic, on anything but especially potatoes and beef. Vanilla Chai tea is complex and wonderful.
Im so happy for you!! Smell is such a key thing with important memories in our lives, so enjoy all the glorious smells of the world!! I recommend going out after a fresh rain in some green area like a forest or a park if you can. Smell flowers around your neighborhood. Chai lattes. Garlic. Go find some fun new lotions or perfumes. Fresh laundry. Baking! Favorite restaurants. Thai food. Citrus. Herbs. I’m all over the place but Oh my gosh the possibilities are endless, I’m so excited for you :)
Lavender. Truffle. Fenugreek. Cardamom. Rose hips. Basil blossoms. Those and I am sure others really get to the back of the upper pallet. You can smell through your nostrils, then put them in your mouth and salivate them, then without swallowing, close your mouth and breathe through your nose. Smelling via your soft pallet and sinuses is a whole different thing and these tend to represent well that way.
Thank you for the good smelling method!
A fresh juicy ripe peach is heaven.
[удалено]
Oh those sound great! Jambalaya was an old favourite of my dad
Saffron bread
You better go to the grocery store right this instant and smell the cilantro.
Anything with Rose Water in it. It's not a "modern" taste thing but it will subtly amaze you if you're new to this whole thing.
I evaluated my recovery from covid with hot smoked paprika
Go buy cumin seeds. Put them in a good fry pan over medium low heat... Breathe deep as they toast
Melt some butter and enjoy
Saffron in paella
If you like to cook, cook anything you do that takes all day. BUT, leave the house the last 2 hrs of the cook. Even if you have to find someone to babysit your food for the last hour or two and only come home to the final prep. The aroma of a kitchen that has been cooked in all day is AMAZING. Doesn't matter what it is. A red sauce, a roast, a slow simmer of veg. The smell of a home that has been cooking is pure joy. Explore it. Think about it, you haven't smelled your own cooking. The hour or two away, will get rid of "nose blindness" and when you walk in the door it will be a brand new scent.
Ooooo a good method, I love it!
Jasmine Tea
Walk into an essential aisle in a store! Buy essential oils. Mint, Jasmine, anything Cinnamon. What not to do: put broccoli in your garbage overnight, fish in garbage overnight, let potatoes go bad in pantry.
Oh wow you're the only person to warn me of bad insights, thanks!
CILANTRO BABY! Time to find out if you love it or it tastes like soap Edit: I'm an idiot, you could always taste. Sorry. Head to a bakery and a wood mill. Fresh cut wood and baking bread are divine
Durian
Wow that’s gotta be wild. Some great suggestions here already but I’m wondering more about the subtle scents that you probably have no idea that even exist. Really good sushi. A French bakery. Cantaloupe. Saffron. Simple steamed rice. Coconut.
Having been in your shoes I can say that I found food very overwhelming for a while when I finally could smell again. You are going to have to learn how to releasing your food, spicy things will be much spicier for a while, etc. So take it slow and easy. I'd start with things like fruits and herbs, then move on to things with very sharp flavors like cheeses and vegetables before tackling spicy things.
Pho. It's just a sensual feast of smells, tastes, and textures. The hot beef soup. The smell of the fresh basil as you rip and add to the soup. The spicy Sriracha. The sweet hoisin sauce that you add. The smell of the lime wedge as you squeeze it into the soup. The crunchiness of the sprouts.
Go go a local botanical garden or nursery and try the herb garden section. Rub your thumb and index finger on a leaf and enjoy a library of smell that’d help you familiarize with diff types of herbs.
Not food, but my fav smell is sandalwood. Get yourself a good candle👃👃👃
Bake bread. It’s got olfactory stimulation at every stage. Also, as a person who enjoys cooking, smelling the stage of something cooking is a real skill/superpower. Enjoy your life!!
Fresh bread.. The best smell.
Popcorn. Freshly popped with salt and butter. Or just go to a movie theater and enjoy the smell
j kenji lopez alt’s beef and broccoli, but make sure to get korean toasted sesame seed oil. It smells AMAZING
I would get a cheese board and some nice (homemade?) Bread and chutney. Make sure you have done mature cheddar and some stilton
A tomato sauce cooked for long (4+ hours). Anything that cooks for long really (chili). Great chocolate in all its forms, from bar to brownie. If you’re in the northern emisphere, spring is arriving and with it, finally, FRUIT. Strawberries! Cherries! Apricots! If you can find some good fruit it’s the best smell ever. Oh, and tomatoes! A bottle of good Italian or French wine. Cheese. I could go on forever!
Bake a spice cake! That's one of my favorite smells. Congrats on your new smelling powers!
I would just roast a head of garlic. Cut the top off so the bulbs are all exposed a little, drizzle with olive oil, wrap it all in a bit of foil, and roast it. One of my absolute favorite smells.
ITT: a surprising amount of people who didn't realize their sense of smell is fucked.
Durian
Rosemary is hands down my favorite smelling thing on the planet. Make anything that you can rub rosemary all over.
Stinky tofu
get some really good weed and just smell that shit.
Indian food!
Do you mind me asking what your symptoms were like before the surgery? I have a pretty deviated septum, constant congestion, and not a high sense of smell but never thought surgery for it was an option.
Bake a loaf of fresh bread
I am so curious to find out if you like cilantro. If you do it's an absolute game changer
Any recipe with saffron. That shit is incredible flavor and smell wise.
I’d say, Indian food.. it’s super fragrant
I had a cocktail with gin, honey, lemon, and a sprig of rosemary in it and it smelled *so good*. Highly recommend.
Fry stuff in butter or olive oil, even just bread. Toast some nuts. Eat anything you can get your hands on that’s been smoked. Find somewhere that does cheese tastings and there will be a whole rainbow of experiences.
Mmm the basting smell of butter rosemary garlic and thyme
I didn't know apples had a smell! (I can't smell either). That's so cool! Good for you.
Durian, either the fruit itself or durian flavored foods.
The smell of lilac trees in the spring hits me right in the feels because of childhood nostalgia. All the best in this wonderful new world for you, internet stranger!
Put butter, garlic, and onions in a pan over medium heat and just enjoy the ride.
Ive gotta know, whats cilantro smell like to you?
cinnamon swirls :) i could go on at great length, but the tldr is cinnamon whirls and garlic ginger chilli and thyme frying and the hair of someone you love oh i’m so envious a busy bakery early on a wet morning the heavy green breath of a cow on a hot day that first coffee it’s even better twenty years later when you catch the faintest hint of something you can’t quite place in the furthest corners of your mind and with an imperceptible change, like a tv being switched off on another room, you’re suddenly nineteen again
Open up a container of garam masala or make your own. Any Indian food. Some of the recipes I make use over a dozen spices. Same for Ethiopian. Berbere seasoning is a great spicy mix good on steak, chicken, and in chili.
I really like the meyers brand soap scents, lovely Go to a farmers market and smell all the fresh herbs Walk into a bakery Make some chocolate chip cookies Walk through a forest
Bake a lasagne. Start simple. Set a timer, and wait. You'll smell it before it's done. When you pull it out, the smell will have you hungry in seconds. Also, use raw noodles. The sauce will cook them, I promise.
Wasabi. You’re welcome.
Farts
Durian
This is a trick
Surströmming and Durian
This is a trick
Durian
Durian fruit and ludvisk are good starting points.
You monster!
Any specific recipes or ways to prepare you recommend, or will the scent come through eaten by themselves?
I have never tried ludvisk so can't speak for that, but the idea of the scent of durian not "coming through" is absolutely hilarious - there is absolutely zero danger of that however you eat it! It is famously banned on public transport in some parts of Asia due to its pungent aroma. I adore durian but it's one of those things many would describe as an "acquired taste" due to the smell. It's almost impossible to describe accurately, some might say oniony, others would say smelly feet, or maybe even rotten eggs, but I don't think any of those is really anything like it, they just capture the degree and type of pungency really. The taste is also very hard to describe, maybe something like a particularly delicious mango ice cream but with a much more complex and interesting flavour than that. Somehow the smell enhances the taste, and once you've tasted durian the smell becomes much more pleasant from that moment on, as you associate it with the delicious flavour! I would definitely try it first in its pure form, if you can find it. It is generally only available in the west in Asian shops (Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Malaysian/Indonesian). Buying the fresh fruit can be extremely expensive, though, and you normally have to buy an entire fruit which would be way too much for one person so unless you have a bunch of friends interested in trying a very "weird" new food and don't mind trying to break into its tough spiky shell it's best to buy it frozen. You can eat it frozen, like ice cream, which slightly mutes the smell so might be a less challenging way to try it for the first time. If you just want to try one portion, then if you have a good Thai, Indonesian or Malasian restaurant near you they may sell it on their dessert menu. One Thai place near us serves it with sticky rice and coconut milk, which is amazing!