Try to imagine life without a sense of smell

‘Imagine walking through a garden unable to smell the flowers and grass.’ Photograph: Dougal Waters/Getty Images

I was delighted to read Emine Saner’s article about Tasha Marks and her work creating scents that tell stories, highlighting the deep connection between smells, memory and emotion (‘There’s otter poo, dragon poo …’ The woman who can make you smell everything, from hell to your grandparents, 4 September). I lost my sense of smell in 2005 following a head injury. Prior to my accident, I had taken my ability to smell for granted and had little understanding of its contribution to my quality of life.

I found support and recognition from some medical professionals and the public lacking, so I got together with Prof Carl Philpott to establish Fifth Sense, a charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders.