Use one row for both observations
Use a familiar, everyday example you already came across. Coffee, soap or food you were preparing might give you something you remember. Write “coffee smelled weaker”, “soap smelled different” or “I couldn’t smell breakfast”. Leave that field unknown if you didn’t notice anything specific. Do not use gas, smoke or chemicals to test your sense of smell.
| Date and time | How blocked my nose felt | What changed about smell |
|---|---|---|
| ____ | Clear, partly blocked or blocked, with side if relevant | Usual, weaker, absent, different or not checked |
| ____ | ____ | ____ |
Free templates for this guide
Open a worksheet to fill in and print, or download a blank copy. Keep completed records private and share them only with people you choose.
Compare blocked and clearer days
A useful summary is “I first noticed a change on Wednesday and it was still there on one day when my nose felt clear”. The first noticed date may be later than the actual start. If smell felt different at lunch and normal at dinner, keep both observations when you can.
| Fictional day | Blockage | Smell |
|---|---|---|
| Monday morning | Both sides blocked after a cold | Not checked |
| Wednesday morning | Still partly blocked | Coffee smelled faint. Unsure if the change started earlier. |
| Sunday afternoon | Nose felt clear on both sides | Familiar soap still smelled different |
| Tuesday evening | Nose felt clear | Soap smelled about usual |
Give the GP a specific example
Bring the approximate onset date, any recent cold or other illness you remember, and one clearer-nose day if you have one. Describe whether smell was weaker, gone, or changed in character. Say if food also tasted different. The NHS describes several kinds of smell change and recommends seeing a GP if it hasn’t returned to normal in a few weeks. NHS smell guidance
If changes persist and you have a longer symptom history, the one-page sinus summary gives you a place to include dates and what else was happening. You can ask for advice before the record is complete.
Capture the next time you notice a change
If smell starts to come back, write down what you were able to notice and when. There can be a difference between noticing one familiar smell and feeling back to your usual. Keep the original entry so you can describe both stages. If you no longer remember whether your nose was clear that day, leave it open.
Make room for everyday safety
If your sense of smell is reduced or absent, you may miss warning smells from fire, leaking gas or spoiled food. Follow the NHS safety links and make sure you have ways to check those hazards without relying on smell. Keep safety checks separate from any informal smell observation.
AirBloom is being built to keep daily sinus observations together. A dated note about smell next to a blockage check-in can make it easier to see whether the changes moved together and find the examples you want to discuss.
Sources & further reading
This guide provides general education, not individual medical advice. It has not been clinically reviewed. Talk to a qualified clinician about persistent, new or worsening symptoms. Follow your local emergency guidance for urgent concerns.
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