Smell kits are becoming more common for people trying to rebuild or sharpen their sense of smell. Whether it’s due to recovering from an illness or just wanting to tune into scent more intentionally, scent training offers a hands-on way to reconnect with one of our most overlooked senses. It doesn’t require fancy tech or overwhelming steps. Just a bit of time, patience, and consistency.
Sometimes we forget how much the sense of smell affects the way we live day-to-day. Smell connects to memories, helps with taste, and even plays a role in safety, like noticing smoke or spoiled food. Smell training through the use of smell kits can help build those connections back or even make them stronger. Let’s walk through the basics so you know what to expect and how to get started.
What Is A Smell Kit?
A smell kit is a set of tools used for scent training. Most kits come with a small group of jars or vials that hold different scented oils. The kits are designed to help your brain recognize smells again or become more alert to ones it might ignore. The scents are chosen carefully to give a wide range of smells like floral, fruity, earthy, or spicy. This broad range helps your brain sort out differences between scent types.
Here are some of the usual items you’ll find in a standard smell kit:
- Small containers or glass jars with lids
- Absorbent sticks or pads soaked in essential oils
- Labels showing the scent name (like rose, clove, lemon, or eucalyptus)
- A handheld case or box for storage
Some kits are simple and come with just four scents. Others can include eight or more. The goal is to expose your nose to a balanced mix so you get used to identifying scents across categories. You breathe each one in for a few seconds, moving slowly through the set.
Most kits are packed in a way that keeps the oils sealed and fresh. That matters because you don’t want the strength of the oils to fade over time. Storage cases help with that, especially if you’re using the kit over the course of several months.
Whether you’re training solo or with help from a specialist, a smell kit lays the foundation. You don’t need any special skills to get going, just a bit of focus and consistency.
How To Use A Smell Kit For Scent Training
Using a smell kit for training isn’t complicated, but there’s a method that helps make it more effective. The key is keeping it short and regular. Most people do two rounds per session, once in the morning and once at night.
Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
1. Find a quiet spot where you can focus without distractions.
2. Open one jar or vial from your kit and hold it just under your nose.
3. Take a gentle sniff while breathing in through your nose. Don’t rush it.
4. Focus on the scent and picture what it reminds you of.
5. Pause for 20 to 30 seconds between each smell.
6. Move on to the next scent and repeat the steps.
7. Do this for all the scents in the kit, twice a day if possible.
Each session only takes about 5 to 7 minutes. That’s it. What really matters is sticking with the process. Skipping a few days or rushing through it makes progress harder to notice. It’s also okay if you don’t smell anything at first. That happens sometimes, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
You can boost your results by keeping a log or journal. Write down what each scent reminds you of or if there’s any change in how strong it smells. Over time, small shifts become more noticeable, and you begin to track your progress with more confidence.
Some people also say they picture lemons when smelling lemon oil or imagine a rose garden when smelling rose. These little mental cues can help your brain find those old scent memories quicker. Keep the space clean, avoid strong surrounding odors, and trust the process.
Benefits Of Scent Training
Training your sense of smell can do more than help you recognize a few odors again. With steady use, it can actually help your brain build better scent memory and sensitivity. That applies whether you're overcoming a loss of smell or just trying to improve how well you notice daily scents. Many people begin to notice gradual changes in how clearly they identify smells during meals, walks outside, or even while doing laundry.
Smell training can play a helpful role in both mental and physical well-being. It often helps with appetite and even with memory, since scent is strongly linked to how we retain information. For example, someone recovering after a cold might start detecting lemon and clove again after several weeks of practice, which can be both exciting and encouraging. Small wins like that really help keep people motivated.
It also has emotional benefits. Scents can trigger positive memories and offer comfort. Reintroducing smells like lavender or orange blossom can bring back a sense of routine and help ground the mind, especially during stressful times. People who've used smell kits consistently often talk about how reconnecting with familiar scents helped them feel more like themselves.
Choosing The Right Smell Kit For You
Picking the right smell kit depends on what stage you’re at and what type of smells you respond to. Some kits feature basic scents drawn from distinct categories like floral, fruity, or resin-based, while advanced kits might include unique combinations that push your scent recognition further.
Here are a few things to think through before picking a kit:
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Number of scents: Some people prefer to start small with four basic ones, while others want eight or more to cover a wide range.
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Strength of aromas: Stronger oils may help if your sense of smell is very faint. Milder ones can be better if you're sensitive or just beginning.
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Storage style: Make sure the kit is easy to open, close, and store. If you'll be using it twice daily, you'll want a design that holds up without leaking or fading.
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Type of applicators: Some kits use droppers, while others use scented wicks or pads. Pick what feels more comfortable to use day after day.
- Refill availability: Over time, you might need to refresh certain scents as the oils weaken. Look for options that let you replace specific components if needed.
It helps to be honest with yourself about what you’ll stick with. A complex kit can be exciting at first, but if it feels like too much, it could cause you to stop using it. Start small and grow from there as you regain scent confidence.
Enhancing Your Scent Training Experience
The setting you train in makes a big difference. You’ll want a quiet place that’s free from competing odors. Strong smells from nearby kitchens, cleaning supplies, or personal care products can interfere with the scent you’re trying to focus on. Choose a part of your home where airflow is steady but not too strong, and ideally away from strong drafts, windows, or AC vents.
It can also help to pair smell training with other activities that wake up the senses. For example, some people listen to quiet music or practice deep breathing while sniffing each scent. Others combine it with journaling or sketching symbols that the scents remind them of. These light add-ons work your brain in more ways and help it store each scent more clearly.
If you’re running into trouble—like never sensing a specific scent or picking up strange smells—don’t ditch the routine. That’s more common than it seems. Some scents just take longer to come back, and sometimes the brain takes a detour before it figures things out. Swapping out one scent after a while can help reset the experience without changing the full routine.
Take it day by day. You don’t need to speed through it or “win” at smell training. It’s the quiet progress that counts most.
Rediscover Everyday Moments Through Scent
Giving scent training a proper chance doesn’t just improve your smelling skills. It opens up a whole new layer of daily life. Smells become tied to moments again—whether it's the smell of your pillowcase, your morning tea, or the books you read before bed. Simple things start to feel richer when your sense of smell is tuned in.
Sticking with it brings rewards that reach far beyond just scent. The commitment to consistency builds focus and calm. Your brain gets a daily nudge to stay curious and patient, and your body gets a small break from the rush of distractions. That kind of steady effort adds up, especially during seasons when routines tend to shift.
Keep exploring scents you haven’t tried yet. Some may surprise you. Others might feel familiar in unexpected ways. And whether you're new to scent training or revisiting it after some time away, you’ve got plenty of space to grow.
If breathing clearly is your goal, taking care of your senses should be part of your routine. MOXE offers a simple way to refresh your scent training with our thoughtfully blended smell kits designed to support everyday wellness.