When you can’t detect odors, it’s usually temporary. But not always…

Can you imagine not being able to smell a hot cup of coffee, the post-rain scent of a fall morning, or just-cut grass on a sunny, summer afternoon?

You might not miss the stinky, wet smell of your dog after a romp in the mud – but then again, losing your sense of smell for any amount of time can be disorienting and emotionally troubling.

Often, a temporary lack of sensory perception is caused by a cold or sinus infection. Once you recover, your sense of smell generally returns full-on. But what if it doesn’t come back?