Does pollen really smell

My allergy shots have been reducing the strength of the smells over the past year.

It's weird. I can smell the things I am allergic to. The oder is STRONG!!! As strong as someone smoking a cigar next to me. Sometimes I can even taste it when pollen is strong enough. Benadryl makes the smell and taste disappear until it wears off.

Does pollen really smell this strong but no one else smells it or is my brain making me think I smell it to identify it? Keep in mind only I and other allergic people can smell it.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

The increased sensitivity of smell to pollen is called priming effect. In allergic rhinitis, antigen−antibody reactions occur in the nasal mucosa through antigen exposure. A strong reaction occurs following exposure to a large amount of antigen, whereas no reaction occurs in the absence of antigens. In seasonal allergic rhinitis, nasal hypersensitivity increases during the pollen-dispersing season, which is known as the 'priming effect'.

http://ai.jsaweb.jp/fulltext/052040207/052040207_index.html

To confirm it you can get tests like nasal challenge or nasal provocation test done.Tests like rhinomanometry are also useful in diagnosing priming effect.

To reduce the increase sensitivity of the nose to pollen,you can use pollen blocking cream like Alergol(Phyt-Immun GmbH; Homburg, Germany).Pls discuss this option with your allergist.
Hope it helped.

Take care and rgds.