Some people notice that smells feel different after a knock to the head. A coffee shop that never bothered you may suddenly feel overwhelming. Cleaning spray, bus exhaust, or onions frying in a pan can arrive stronger than before, or seem to linger in a room long after the source is gone. This is worth writing down. A written record does not prove anything by itself, but it gives you something concrete to bring into the room.
This page is educational. It does not explain what is causing your symptoms, and it cannot replace an exam. Its only job is to help you describe what you have noticed in plain words, in the order it happened.
Why a plain log helps
Smell changes are easy to forget by the time you sit down with a clinician. Ordinary days blur together, and a scent that bothered you on Tuesday may be gone by Friday. A log turns a vague feeling into dates, places, and details that someone can actually read and ask about.
Keep the log short. A small notebook or a note on your phone works fine. You are not writing an essay. You are recording facts you can check later.
What to note each time
For each episode, write down the smell itself, such as cooking, cleaning products, perfume, exhaust, smoke, or a musty room. Note where you were and about what time it was. Rate the strength on a scale you choose, and keep that scale the same every time. Say whether the smell seemed pleasant, sharp, or unpleasant. If a headache, nausea, or dizziness came with it, write how long each one lasted and whether it eased.
Then note what was around you. Did you have a stuffy nose or a cold? Were you in a closed car or a small room? Had you just eaten? Did you take any medicine? These details can seem dull, but they are often exactly what a reader of your notes will want to know.
Separating familiar scents from odd ones
Try sorting entries into two groups. The first group holds smells you can name and place, like someone cooking garlic down the hall. The second group holds smells that seem to come from nowhere, or that appear when no source is present. Keep both groups, because the difference matters when you describe your experience.
Also write down when you first noticed a change compared with the knock. Use the same wording each time. If you wrote the day after the knock, say so. If you are not sure, say you are not sure. A careful note of uncertainty is more useful than a guess presented as fact.
Preparing for a St. Louis visit
If you are in the St. Louis metro and thinking about getting examined this week, bring the log with you. Start with a short summary on the first page: the date of the knock, the first time you noticed a smell change, how often it has happened since, and what seems to set it off. Add a list of anything you have taken, including over-the-counter products and home remedies.
Coverage can also shape when you decide to be seen. NPR Health has reported that open enrollment for 2027 health insurance marketplace coverage opened on Nov. 1, and that getting an early start may be especially important this year. If cost or coverage is part of your planning, check your options now rather than in the middle of a busy week.
When not to wait
Some changes need prompt attention rather than a log. Seek urgent care if a smell change comes with confusion, weakness, trouble speaking, vision loss, repeated vomiting, a sudden severe headache, or a headache that keeps getting worse. Do not stop to finish your notes first. Get help, and bring the log along once you are able.
A plain record will not tell anyone what is happening inside your head. What it can do is make your account clearer, your questions sharper, and your visit easier to follow for both you and the person examining you.