What Does It Mean If You Smell Lemon? Investigating Phantom Scents

October 2, 2025 •

5 min read

According to research from the University of Sussex, the scent of lemon can make people feel better about their body image and more alert. But what does it mean if you smell lemon when there is no citrus nearby? This phenomenon, known as phantosmia, can have surprising medical and non-medical explanations that warrant attention.

Quick Summary

Smelling a phantom lemon scent, medically known as phantosmia, can indicate various underlying causes affecting the nasal passages or the nervous system. These can range from minor issues like infections to more serious neurological conditions, or they may relate to psychological associations and spiritual interpretations. Seeking a medical evaluation is recommended for persistent symptoms.

Key Points

Phantosmia: The phantom smell of lemon is medically known as phantosmia, an olfactory hallucination where a scent is perceived without an external source.
Diverse Medical Causes: Reasons for phantosmia can range from common issues like sinus infections, allergies, and dental problems to more serious conditions like head trauma, epilepsy, and brain tumors.
COVID-19 Link: Post-viral infection, especially from COVID-19, is a noted cause of phantosmia due to potential damage to the olfactory neurons.
Spiritual Symbolism: Outside of medicine, the phantom scent of lemon is interpreted by some as a spiritual message signifying cleansing, renewal, protection, or a new beginning.
When to See a Doctor: While often temporary, persistent phantom smells lasting for more than a few weeks should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out serious underlying neurological or medical issues.
Phantosmia vs. Parosmia: Phantosmia is the perception of a smell that isn't there, whereas parosmia is a distorted perception of a real smell, which can often be unpleasant.

The Medical Explanation: Phantosmia

Phantosmia is the medical term for smelling something that isn't present in your environment, essentially an olfactory hallucination. While a phantom smell is often unpleasant, like smoke or rotten odors, some people experience pleasant phantom smells, including the scent of lemon. The source of this phantom scent can be traced back to problems with the olfactory system, which includes the nasal passages and the areas of the brain that process smells.

Common Causes of Phantom Smells

Several common health issues can trigger phantosmia. Often, once the underlying problem is resolved, the phantom smell disappears.

Upper Respiratory and Sinus Infections: Colds, the flu, and sinus infections can damage the olfactory nerves, leading to temporary phantosmia. As the infection clears and nerves heal, the phantom smell typically fades.
Nasal Polyps and Allergies: Chronic inflammation caused by allergies or nasal polyps can irritate the nasal passages and lead to altered smell perception, including phantom scents.
Dental Issues: Infections from dental problems can sometimes spread and affect the sinuses, causing an altered sense of smell.
COVID-19 Infection: The COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, is well-documented for its effects on smell and taste. It can damage olfactory neurons, leading to post-viral phantosmia.
Head Trauma: A blow to the head can disrupt the neural pathways involved in smell perception, triggering phantom odors.
Certain Medications: Some drugs, including certain antidepressants and antibiotics, can list changes to the sense of smell as a side effect.

When the Cause is Neurological

In less common instances, phantosmia can signal a more serious neurological condition. When the problem lies within the brain's processing of smells, the phantom scent can be more persistent.

Migraines: Some individuals experience a phantom smell, or phantosmia, as a form of aura that precedes or accompanies a migraine headache.
Epilepsy: Temporal lobe seizures can sometimes cause olfactory hallucinations. If the phantom lemon smell is paired with other seizure-related symptoms, it could indicate epilepsy.
Brain Tumors: Tumors or masses in the brain, especially in the temporal lobe which is involved in smell processing, can cause persistent olfactory hallucinations.
Parkinson's Disease: Phantosmia has been observed as an early symptom of some neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's.
Stroke: A stroke that impacts the area of the brain responsible for smell can lead to phantosmia.

Psychological and Spiritual Interpretations

Beyond the physical and neurological, the scent of lemon holds significance in both psychological and spiritual contexts. If medical causes have been ruled out, these may offer an explanation.

Psychological Associations: Many people associate the scent of lemon with cleanliness, freshness, and alertness, thanks to its use in cleaning products and aromatherapy. A phantom smell might be a subconscious association or psychological trigger, though this is not a well-documented cause of phantosmia itself.
Spiritual Meaning: In many spiritual traditions, lemons are symbols of cleansing, clarity, and protection. An unexpected lemon scent could be interpreted as a spiritual sign:
- Energetic Cleansing: A sign that you need to clear negative energy from your life or your space.
- New Beginnings: An indication that a fresh chapter is on the horizon.
- Messages from Guides: Some believe scents can be messages from spirit guides or departed loved ones.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

When investigating the cause of phantosmia, a doctor will follow a structured process. If the cause is a simple infection, it may resolve on its own, but neurological causes often require more advanced treatment.

How Doctors Diagnose Phantosmia

Medical History and Physical Exam: The first step is a physical exam of the ears, nose, and throat. Your doctor will also ask detailed questions about your symptoms, including the type of smell, its frequency, and if it affects one or both nostrils.
Nasal Endoscopy: A specialist might insert a thin, flexible tube with a camera into your nose to visually inspect your nasal passages and sinuses for issues like polyps or inflammation.
Imaging Tests: If a neurological cause is suspected, imaging tests such as a CT or MRI scan can be used to examine the brain and nasal structures.
Electroencephalogram (EEG): An EEG may be performed to measure brain activity if epilepsy is a concern.

Treatment Depends on the Cause

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, and it is entirely dependent on the underlying cause. For example:

Infections: Phantosmia from colds or sinus infections often resolves on its own or with standard infection treatment like antibiotics or decongestants.
Chronic Conditions: For conditions like allergies, steroid sprays or allergy shots may be recommended.
Neurological Issues: If the cause is neurological, such as epilepsy or a brain tumor, treatment will focus on managing that specific condition.
Home Remedies: Some individuals find temporary relief from saline nasal rinses or over-the-counter nasal sprays.

Phantom Smells: Phantosmia vs. Parosmia

It is important to differentiate between phantosmia and a related condition called parosmia. The table below outlines the key differences between the two smell disorders.


Feature	Phantosmia (Olfactory Hallucination)	Parosmia (Distorted Smell)
Nature of the Smell	Perception of a smell when no odor source is present.	Distorted perception of an actual odor source.
Trigger	No external trigger; the smell comes from an internal neurological or peripheral malfunction.	Triggered by an actual smell in the environment, which is perceived incorrectly.
Experience	Can be either pleasant (euosmia) or unpleasant (cacosmia), but often the latter.	Most often unpleasant, with typical smells like coffee or citrus being perceived as something foul.
Associated Causes	Upper respiratory infections, nasal issues, head trauma, seizures, brain tumors, COVID-19.	Often associated with nerve regeneration after viral infections, including COVID-19.

Conclusion: When to Seek Medical Advice

While an isolated phantom scent of lemon may seem benign, it's wise to be vigilant. Many cases of phantosmia resolve on their own, especially when linked to minor issues like a cold. However, persistent phantom smells that last for more than a few weeks warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like headaches, seizures, or changes in vision. A doctor can help determine the cause and recommend the right course of action. If medical investigations reveal no physiological cause, then exploring the psychological or spiritual associations with the scent may provide context and comfort.

For more information on olfactory disorders and when to seek medical help, visit the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

Visit the NIDCD for more information on smell disorders

Frequently Asked Questions

Phantosmia is a medical condition where a person perceives smells that are not actually present in their environment. It is sometimes called an olfactory hallucination or a 'phantom smell' and can be caused by a range of factors.

Yes, sinus infections and other inflammatory conditions of the nasal passages, like allergies, can cause irritation and damage to the olfactory nerves, leading to phantom smells like lemon.

In rare cases, persistent phantosmia can be a symptom of a more serious neurological condition, such as a brain tumor. However, more common causes like infections and head injuries are typically investigated first.

Spiritually, smelling lemons is often associated with cleansing, purification, and fresh beginnings. It can be seen as a sign to release negativity, seek mental clarity, or receive a message from a spirit guide.

A doctor diagnoses phantosmia by taking a full medical history, performing a physical exam of the head and neck, and potentially ordering tests like a nasal endoscopy or imaging scans (CT or MRI) to find the underlying cause.

If the phantom smell persists for more than a few weeks, is disruptive to your life, or is accompanied by other symptoms like headaches, seizures, or changes in vision, you should see a doctor for a thorough evaluation.

Phantosmia is the perception of a smell that is not present, whereas parosmia is a distorted perception of a real smell. For example, a person with parosmia might smell rotten garbage when they are near coffee.