parosmia

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A distorted sense of smell, often resulting in the apparent detection of non-existent smells which are mostly unpleasant.

   “Parosmis, from παρα, "male [Latin: ‘badly; wrongly’]," and ὄζω, "oleo, olfacio;" analogously with paracusis and paropsis, and hence preferred to parosmia. The common term among nosologists is anosmia, but this only includes one species of the genus, namely, privation or destitution of smell; which, in fact, is the only one that has hitherto been introduced into nosological systems.”

   “The smell, too, is often perverted—Parosmia. The author was formerly acquainted with a lady, who scented her snuff with the tincture of assafœtida.”

   “Smell disturbances occur quite frequently after head injuries. They consist in unilateral or bilateral hypnosmia or anosmia which may be bound with spontaneous parosmias.”

   “Parosmia has been reported by a number of patients with head trauma. In some cases, parosmia is a sign of nerve regeneration and the return (at least partially) of the sense of smell. In other cases, parosmia can be severe, persistent, and intrusive.”

   “Parosmias tend to decrease to a bearable level after approximately one year. However, recent work revealed that more than 50% of the parosmias are still present after two years. Over time, parosmia seems to lose its devastating effect on quality of life.”