Do essential oils work without a sense of smell?

Why aromatic molecules do their work, even when you can’t smell them

This week I gave a training for the staff of CJI: “AI-proof your brain”, a programme in which we strengthen your nervous system and make your brain more resilient in a world full of digital stimuli. We worked with breathing exercises, conscious pauses and of course essential oils.

And then came the questions.

Two participants asked the same thing: they have no sense of smell. One through an accident, the other through a viral infection. And they wondered: “If I can’t smell the oils, do they still have an effect on my nervous system?”

The lovely thing is: I get that question regularly. Through my app, in trainings, from clients who doubt whether they should still use those little bottles now that they’ve lost their sense of smell (temporarily or permanently).

And every time my answer is the same: yes. Essential oils still work. Even without smell.

But I understand you want to grasp why and how. So let me take you through what we know about it.

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The 3 routes of essential oils: smell is only one

When you use essential oils, they enter your body and do their work in three ways.

1. Aromatic: via your nose to your brain

This is what most people know: you smell lavender, you feel calmer. The aromatic molecules travel via your olfactory nerves to your olfactory bulb, the only point where your central nervous system is in direct contact with the outside world. From there they reach your limbic system within seconds, the areas that regulate emotion, memory and stress.

This is the fastest route, and certainly not the only one.

2. Topical: via your skin into your bloodstream

Essential oils are lipophilic, they have an affinity with fatty substances. Your skin contains natural lipids, which means the molecules are effectively absorbed.

Studies show that active components are detectable in your bloodstream within 15-30 minutes of topical application (Herman & Herman, 2015). A study with lavender oil showed that linalool and linalyl acetate (the main components) were found in the blood after a gentle abdominal massage with a 2% blend, peaking after about 30 minutes.

The molecules circulate through your body and reach your brain, your organs and your muscles. They influence your nervous system, your hormone balance and the cellular communication that supports healthy tissue recovery, without you having to smell them.

3. Internal: via your digestion

Some oils can be taken internally. They then work via your gastrointestinal tract, are absorbed into your bloodstream and so reach your whole system. This is the most direct systemic route, no detour via nose or skin.

Safety first. Internal use isn’t for everyone and not for every oil. Do it only with oils explicitly intended and labelled for it (with doTERRA recognisable by the supplement facts label), at the indicated dosage. Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, not for young children, and always check first if you’re on medication. In doubt? Stick to aromatic and topical, those work regardless.

But if you can’t smell, aren’t you missing part of it?

Yes and no.

What you miss: the conscious scent experience. The emotional association with a smell. That moment of “ah, I smell lavender, time to relax.”

What you don’t miss: the pharmacological effects. And that applies to all three routes, including aromatic use. That’s the crucial insight research gives us.

Lavender works in anosmia too

A 2013 study (in Life Sciences) examined whether lavender oil still had an anxiety-reducing effect in mice with anosmia, mice that had been artificially deprived of their sense of smell.

The result: the calming effects of inhaling lavender oil were identical in mice with and without a sense of smell. The researchers’ conclusion: “These results suggest that olfactory system activation is unlikely to participate in the anxiolytic-like effect of lavender essential oil inhalation.”

In other words: the calming effect of lavender runs through a different mechanism than smell alone.

TRP receptors: the non-olfactory system

During COVID many people lost their sense of smell, which led to extensive research into how essential oils work in anosmia.

What scientists discovered: essential oils activate TRP receptors (Transient Receptor Potential receptors), sensors that respond to temperature, pain and chemical substances. These receptors sit all over your body: in your skin, your airways, your guts. Even if your olfactory system doesn’t work, they’re still activated by the molecules from essential oils. That explains why people without a sense of smell still experience an effect from topical application or ingestion.

Absorption through the skin is powerful enough

Multiple studies show that components from essential oils are not only absorbed through the skin, but also stay active in your bloodstream: for most oils about 4-6 hours, for oils like frankincense up to 8 hours.

A systematic review of 112 studies (Mwesigwa et al., Scientia Pharmaceutica, 2022) concluded: “Essential oils and their volatile constituents can penetrate through the skin as well as enhance penetration of different drugs from topical formulation into the lower skin layers.” So the effects are systemic, they influence your whole body, including your nervous system, your cellular processes and your hormonal balance.

Practical: how to use essential oils without a sense of smell

Good news: you don’t have to skip a single application.

Aromatic:

Diffusing still works, the molecules are inhaled and absorbed via your lungs
Via your airways they reach your bloodstream and activate TRP receptors
The participants in my CJI workshop experienced this: they noticed the effects, even without consciously smelling the scent
Use a diffuser or personal inhaler as you’re used to
The only difference: you have no scent association, but the molecules do their pharmacological work

Topical:

Always dilute with a carrier oil (for example fractionated coconut oil)
Use 1-2 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier
Best spots for absorption: soles of the feet, wrists, neck (thin skin, good circulation)
Let the oil work in for at least 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off

Internal (with the safety note above in mind):

Only use oils explicitly labelled for internal use
Start conservatively: 1 drop in a vegetarian capsule or diluted in 250ml of water
Take it about 30 minutes before the desired effect (for example before bedtime with sleep-supporting oils)

Oils with powerful systemic action

Some oils are particularly effective via topical or internal use:

Frankincense: supports healthy brain function
Copaiba: contains beta-caryophyllene, a plant-based cannabinoid that supports your endocannabinoid system
Turmeric: contains curcumin, supports joints and muscles via systemic action
Adaptiv capsules: formulated for stress support via ingestion
Deep Blue: for muscle and joint discomfort via topical application

Why this matters

The question “do essential oils work without smell” is about something bigger: do people see natural remedies as pharmacologically active, or do they think it’s only placebo?

Let me be clear: essential oils are bioactive molecules with demonstrable pharmacological effects. They bind to receptors, influence neurotransmitters, support cellular communication, are metabolised by your liver and have half-lives you can measure. This is biochemistry, not a fairy tale.

And yes, the psychological component of smell is powerful, no one denies that. The pharmacological action is separate from it. If you have no sense of smell, you miss part of the experience, while the effectiveness remains intact.

To finish

Those two participants at my training could experience live that the aromatic molecules did have an effect on them. They went home satisfied, knowing that essential oils can still support their nervous system via all three applications: aromatic, topical and internal.

Because molecules do their work, even without you consciously perceiving the smell.

Ready to give this a go? Download the protocol, use your oils, and let’s go. Your nervous system is waiting for input.

🎁 Free download: complete smell-training guide

Want to get started with smell training yourself, or do you know someone who wants to recover their sense of smell? I’ve put together a complete guide with:

The scientifically supported 4-oil protocol
Step-by-step instructions
An extensive 8-oil protocol for optimal recovery
All the scientific studies
Direct order links for the right oils