Born This Way

I was born without a sense of smell.

I don’t think I was ever officially diagnosed, but my parents realized that I couldn’t smell when I would come up and watch them change my little brother’s diaper. They said I was eye-level with the stink, and I didn’t bat an eye.

No one is entirely sure why I can’t smell, but it’s probably due to the fact that I was born prematurely. So I don’t have any childhood smells. Some of you may pity me, telling me I never smelled cookies being baked, or popcorn, or bacon being cooked. I never smelled scented candles— never inhaled sweet apple pie, or spicy cinnamon, or tangy citris.

But I don’t miss these things. Maybe it isn’t possible to miss something you never had. Maybe it is, and I am merely desensitized to my longing.

Because for every time I’ve missed out on something good, I’m also getting off scott free on the bad. I never smelled the thick stench of skunk when we had them living under our house. I didn’t smell the odor of my dog’s canned food. I didn’t mind when my friends forgot to put on deodorant that morning.

So I don’t have any childhood smells.

But I’ve got enough memories, good and bad, to make up for that lack.

Common questions:

Q: Can you taste?

A: Yes. Since I was born without a sense of smell, I can still taste fine. Maybe if I could smell it would change my sense of taste, but as it is I can still taste. I have a favorite food (correction: I have many favorite foods).

Q: Is it COVID?

A: This is a more recent question that I've gotten from people when I tell them I can't smell. The answer? No. I was born this way, it was not the result of a virus (at least as far as I know).

Interesting Facts:

1. I can "smell" gas. My dad had just gotten propane and I was leaning over it, and it made my nose feel weird. It's sort of hard to explain, but I think my nose could detect that I shouldn't be breathing in gasoline.

2. If I could smell anything, I'd either want to smell baking brownies or popcorn.