Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Osmophobia?Role of HyperosmiaCommon Odor TriggersPrevention Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Osmophobia?
Role of Hyperosmia
Common Odor Triggers
Prevention Tips
JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
It isn’t quite clear why some people are more sensitive to noxious smells than others, but osmophobia— a psychological hypersensitivity to smells—is a common part of the migraine experience.
Generally, chemical fumes such as cleaners and gasoline are those most likely to induce a migraine attack. During amigraine, many odors can be bothersome.
During a migraine, you may experience an aversion to smells that you regard as unpleasant. This could be due to a physiological cause, a psychological one, or a combination of the two.
When it is psychological, it is referred to as osmophobia.
This can manifest with physiological symptoms such as anxiety and migraine.
The response to the smell may be inconsistent.Certain scents, such as those from polishes and chemical cleaners, may seem exceedingly strong when you are having a migraine but be entirely benign at other times.
Osmophobia is a common psychological feature of a migraine attack, just likephotophobia(sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound).
The Role of Hyperosmia
In contrast,hyperosmiais when disease, pregnancy, nutritional deficiencies, or an adverse reaction to a medication causes smell hypersensitivity.
Hyperosmia and osmophobia can work together to induce a migraine attack. Because hyperosmia causes smell hypersensitivity, it can induce a psychological response in the form of osmophobia.
Scent hypersensitivity from hyperosmia could be related to the size of theolfactory bulb(the receptor in the brain that processes signals from the nose).
Some studies have suggested that people who get migraines are more likely to have a smaller olfactory bulb than people don’t.Others have reported that people with migraines and osmophobia have an even smaller olfactory bulb volume.
Some researchers suggest that diminished blood flow to the olfactory bulb could be the cause of shrinkage of this organ.However, these structural changes are subtle, and measuring your olfactory bulb is not a standard procedure.
Overview and Causes of Olfactory Disorders
Smells are just as powerful a trigger for migraines as alcohol and sleep deprivation.
There are a variety of odors known to precipitate migraines, the most common of which include:
Odors are more likely to induce a migraine if you are exposed for more than 15 minutes and if you are in an enclosed space.
10 Common Migraine Triggers
Awareness and avoidance of your migraine triggers are key to improving your quality of life. There are several steps you can take to thwart scent-induced migraines.
Recognize When You’re Triggered
It may be hard to think back on your day and try to align where you were and what you were doing when a migraine started or worsened.
But at least 50% of people who have recurrent migraines experiencepremonitory symptoms, which occur during the first (prodromal) stage of a migraine.
If you notice symptoms such as moodiness, dizziness, or fatigue, take note of your surroundings and activities in that moment.
Then try to see if there is a pattern between this and the onset of your migraines over time.
Symptoms of a Migraine
Control Your Environment
When you are exposed to fumes that could trigger a migraine, leave where you are, open a window, or step outside if you can.
If you work closely with paint thinners, gasoline, or odorous substances that you are sensitive to, consider switching to another workspace where you better able to avoid these smells.
If you discover that a common smell like perfume or detergents is one of your migraine triggers, consider creating a scent-free space with your co-workers or roommate.
Did You Know?In addition to osmophobia, people with migraines have also been known to experience phantosmia (smelling an odor that is not there) and cacosmia (perceiving a mild or pleasant smell as noxious).
Did You Know?
In addition to osmophobia, people with migraines have also been known to experience phantosmia (smelling an odor that is not there) and cacosmia (perceiving a mild or pleasant smell as noxious).
A Word From Verywell
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Cleveland Clinic.What’s that smell? What you need to know about hyperosmia.
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Doğan A, Bayar Muluk N, Şahan MH, Asal N, Inal M, Ergün U.Olfactory bulbus volume and olfactory sulcus depth in migraine patients: an MRI evaluation.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2018 Aug;275(8):2005-11. doi:10.1007/s00405-018-5029-x
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