Mysterious Scents: Medical or Spiritual?
Do you ever experience this, like me? Occasionally I catch a whiff of a smell that doesn’t really “exist.”
Why do I say it doesn’t exist? Because no one else around me notices it. I’ve smelled things like the scent of an unfamiliar elderly woman (not “old people smell”), the scent of a passed-away relative, or even a stench like garbage.
The strange part is, whenever I point it out to others, the smell sometimes moves to another place. For example, one day when I came home, I noticed a smell at my bedroom door. It was like the lotion some elderly women use — slightly fragrant — and I knew it wasn’t coming from me. I asked my family, “Do you smell that?” Everyone said no. Just as I was puzzled, a few minutes (or maybe an hour) later, the smell disappeared from my doorway and shifted to the middle of the living room.
If it were before I learned about spirituality, I probably would have been scared — wondering if a ghost had entered the house.
The Medical Angle
I found an article on Cleveland Clinic (a nonprofit medical website) about a condition called Phantosmia — the perception of smells that aren’t really there.
It said phantosmia can be caused by illnesses like colds, headaches, certain medications, and more. Some people report smelling burning rubber or rotten food.
This reminded me: two years ago when I had COVID-19, I constantly smelled something like soda fizz — like when Sprite stings your nose. The smell lingered throughout the illness, but disappeared once I recovered. (Cleveland Clinic also mentions COVID-19 as a trigger.)
But in other times, I’m sure I wasn’t sick, and yet I still smelled those mysterious scents.
The Spiritual Angle (My Personal Take)
I believe some spirits (or “ghosts”) might wander around — revisiting places from their lifetime, or exploring out of curiosity. Just like people, every spirit has its own personality. Some are curious by nature and may pass by someone’s house, notice something interesting inside, and step in for a look. That’s what I think happened with the “elderly lady smell” I sensed.
So there’s no need to be afraid. But if you feel disturbed, here’s something you can try.
Once, I followed a YouTuber named Ruowen Huang, a writer, psychic, and mother of two. She explained: if a stranger entered your home, what would you do? You’d probably say, “Who are you? Why are you here? Please leave.”
You can say something similar if you sense a spirit in your space:
“Hello, excuse me, this is my home (or wherever you are). I live here now. Please leave, thank you.”
Of course, you can change the words to whatever feels natural.
I also had a personal moment: when my child was about two years old, sometimes he would stare at the corner of the staircase with a scared expression. Back then, I hadn’t studied spirituality and was terrified of ghosts. But because I needed to protect my child, I actually yelled, “This is my house! I live here now! Please leave!” Looking back now, it feels kind of funny.
A Personal Story
About a year after my father-in-law passed away, I smelled a very familiar scent near the bathroom door one summer. It was his unique “shirt collar sweat smell,” something I had only ever noticed on him. I’m certain it was his scent.
It lasted only a moment — because in my mind I thought, “Dad, is that you? I’m about to take a shower.” I don’t remember if I waited outside the bathroom, but within three minutes the scent disappeared. Amazing, right?
Final Thoughts
If you believe in the medical explanation, it’s best to consult a doctor.
If you believe it’s something supernatural, then relax — after all, we all have souls. The only difference is that we’re using our bodies as “vehicles,” while spirits no longer have one. In essence, we’re the same. It’s just that with a body, we can’t see them with the naked eye.