Rachael Mead and her grandmother share a unique bond: both have congenital anosmia, meaning they have never had a sense of smell. This invisible condition nearly cost them their lives in 1994 when a gas leak went undetected. Mead recounts the incident, highlighting the dangers of anosmia and its profound impact on daily life, from food enjoyment to social interactions.
A Near-Fatal Gas Leak
In the winter of 1994, Mead stayed with her grandmother while her aunt was away. One night, after a cup of hot chocolate, Mead woke up feeling ill. Her grandmother also seemed unwell. When her boyfriend arrived to pick her up for work, he smelled gas and quickly evacuated them. The stove had been left on overnight, filling the house with gas. Mead had microwaved a cup of tea instead of making coffee, which would have required lighting the stove, potentially causing an explosion. This lazy choice saved their lives.
What Is Anosmia?
Anosmia, the inability to smell, affects 3% to 20% of the population, including those with congenital anosmia or loss from injury or illness. While less recognized than blindness or deafness, anosmia poses serious risks: undetected gas leaks, smoke, and spoiled food. It also diminishes quality of life, as smell and taste are intertwined. Loss of smell is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
The Connection Between Smell and Memory
Smell is processed by the limbic system, which also handles memory and emotion. This explains why scents can trigger vivid memories, as in Proust's madeleine scene. For those without smell, this connection is lost. Mead feels a sense of melancholy when reading such descriptions, as she cannot relate to this experience.
Living with Anosmia
Mead grew up unaware she couldn't smell, assuming it was an adult skill. Her family normalized it, and she learned to mimic smelling to avoid explaining her condition. Reading about smell, like in Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses, made her feel like an anthropologist studying a foreign culture. The language of scent remains abstract to her.
Anosmia in Literature and Pandemic
Patrick Süskind's Perfume made Mead feel intensely alone, as its scent-filled world was alien to her. She notes the lack of fictional protagonists with congenital anosmia, reflecting societal invisibility. The COVID-19 pandemic brought widespread smell loss, increasing awareness. However, for congenital anosmics, the psychological impact is about difference and isolation, not loss.
Social and Practical Challenges
Mead faces constant anxiety about personal odor, as she cannot smell herself. She overcompensates with salt and chili in cooking, as strong flavors are more detectable. Her husband does most cooking to avoid burnt or overseasoned food. Friends often forget her condition, offering roses for her to smell.
Writing and Masking
In poetry workshops, Mead initially omitted smell stanzas but later invented scents to meet reader expectations, feeling like a liar. Her poems are based on secondhand perceptions, masking her true experience. Despite this, she feels complete in her sensory world, which is less fragrant but also less fetid.
Conclusion
Mead's anosmia does not define her, but it shapes her perception. She continues to write, incorporating invented scents, and accepts her mother's roses with a smile. Her story underscores the hidden challenges of living without smell.
