About Anosmia Awareness
Putting smell loss on the public health map.
Anosmia Awareness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of smell loss, supporting the millions of people who live with it, and advocating for the research that will change what’s possible for them.
What we do
Anosmia affects roughly 1 in 20 people worldwide — but for decades the condition went largely unrecognized in public health and clinical care. Our work focuses on changing that on three fronts.
Awareness
We raise public understanding of smell loss through Anosmia Awareness Day, ongoing education, and media outreach. The general public, healthcare providers, and policymakers all need to take smell loss seriously.
Community
We give people who live with anosmia — whether congenital, post-illness, or post-injury — a place to find each other, share resources, and know they’re not alone. The smell loss community is large, but it is not always visible.
Advocacy
We support and amplify the research, clinical work, and policy efforts that bring smell loss into mainstream medicine. We partner with organizations and clinicians worldwide who share that goal.
February 27, observed worldwide
Anosmia Awareness Day
Anosmia Awareness Day began in 2012 as the world’s first dedicated day for smell loss recognition. It is observed every February 27 by people who have anosmia, their families, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy organizations across more than a dozen countries. Wear red. Share your story. Help us raise visibility for a condition that millions live with and few understand.
Why this work matters more than ever
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed smell loss from a quiet, often-dismissed condition into a public health issue affecting millions. Tens of millions of people experienced anosmia, hyposmia, or parosmia during and after their infections, and a significant portion are still living with smell dysfunction years later. The pandemic accelerated research, clinical attention, and public understanding to a degree that would have been unimaginable in 2012. We are working to ensure that this momentum lasts, and that the people who lived with anosmia long before COVID — including those born without smell — remain at the center of the conversation.
About Anosmia Awareness Inc.
Anosmia Awareness Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Daniel, who has lived with congenital anosmia since birth. The organization operates on the support of volunteers, donors, and the broader smell-loss community.
Get involved
Join us in the work
Whether you live with anosmia, support someone who does, work in research or clinical practice, or simply want to help raise awareness — there’s a place for you in this work.