DW Documentary

What is life like without smells?

Since Covid-19 and the symptoms of loss of smell and taste, many people have begun to realize just how important smell is in our lives. Our sense of smell is the oldest sense we have. Not only the enjoyment of our food, but also our memories, emotions and social interactions are influenced by it. The loss of the sense of smell, or ‘anosmia’, significantly impairs people's experience of the world. In this documentary, people talk about their lives without smell. But what if you've never been able to smell before? Lauren Ramoser only noticed at the age of 11 in chemistry class that the strong-smelling acids seemed to smell "corrosive" to her classmates, but that she didn't notice anything herself. How does this affect a person’s life?