NYC Perfumer Sue Phillips Helps COVID Survivors Regain Their Sense of Smell — It Literally Brought Them to Tears
New York City master perfumer Sue Phillips is inviting COVID-19 survivors who lost their sense of smell to her studio — using the healing power of fragrance to help them rediscover the world of scent, one note at a time.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, master perfumer Sue Phillips saw her business transform overnight. She had spent decades creating signature scents for iconic brands like Tiffany & Co. and Lancôme, and working one-on-one with clients at her New York City fragrance studio. Suddenly, everything changed.
Phillips pivoted quickly, moving her bespoke fragrance experiences to virtual sessions. But she soon discovered an unexpected new calling — using her deep expertise in scent healing to help COVID-19 survivors suffering from anosmia (loss of smell).
It all began when a friend sent Lyss Stern, a COVID-19 survivor, to Phillips' studio. Stern had lost her sense of smell in March 2020 and was still struggling more than a year and a half later — unable to enjoy food, connect socially, or experience the everyday scents that make life rich.
"I said to her, 'Look, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not a chemist, but I know the extraordinary powers of fragrance,'" Phillips tells PEOPLE. She guided Stern through a signature fragrance journey exploring three layers of scent: top notes (light, airy fragrances), middle notes (florals and fruits from her floral perfume collection), and deep base notes like vanilla and woodsy scents from her woodsy fragrance blends. That last group did the trick.
"She couldn't really smell the top notes, she couldn't really identify the middle notes, but then suddenly there was a flicker in her eye, and she said, 'I can smell something. I don't know what it is, but I can smell something.'"
When Stern realized she could detect vanilla and amber scents, "she literally almost started to weep," Phillips says. "She could smell something for the first time, so she got very emotional and I got very emotional."
The breakthrough made headlines across New York City. Phillips soon heard from another woman in her mid-twenties, Marissa Karen, who also hadn't smelled anything in over a year. Phillips guided Karen through the same fragrance journey — and this time, a citrus scent from her fresh perfume collection was the key.
"She texted me about three hours later and said, 'I cannot believe what you just did, for the first time I'm smelling my candles, I'm smelling restaurants, I'm smelling food. I have not been able to do this,'" Phillips says. "It was like the fog had lifted and she could smell. It literally brought them to tears."
Phillips says her phone and email are now "blowing up" with requests from COVID-19 survivors hoping to finally regain their sense of smell. For those who aren't nearby, she recommends starting with citrus fruits — lemons, limes, and grapefruit — and practicing smell exercises with eyes open, then closed. You can also explore her Perfume Discovery & Scent Kits, designed to help you explore and train your sense of smell from home.
"What they're doing is exercising their brain," she says. "I want them to smell with their brain, because our olfactory system, our sense of smell, is directly connected to the limbic system in the brain."
For Phillips, who spent the pandemic being "really vigilant" about staying protected out of fear of losing her own sense of smell, the work has been deeply rewarding. Read more about her philosophy on scent healing and the therapeutic power of fragrance, or explore her artisan fragrance collection — each scent handcrafted to evoke emotion, memory, and connection.
"When people can't smell and they can't taste, they can't enjoy their food and they don't want to socialize. The net result is that people retract from society," she says. "The fact that I'm able to help them rediscover their sense of smell and get back to enjoying things is such a joy. I'm so happy that I've been able to help people."
Experience the Healing Power of Fragrance with Sue Phillips
Whether you're on a journey to recover your sense of smell or simply want to discover your signature scent, Sue Phillips offers deeply personal fragrance experiences designed to move, inspire, and transform.
- 🌿 Book an In-Studio Scent Creation Experience — Visit Sue's NYC studio for a one-on-one bespoke fragrance journey.
- 🏠 At-Home Scent Creation Experience — Can't make it to NYC? Bring the studio to you.
- 🧪 Shop Perfume Discovery & Scent Kits — Explore and train your sense of smell from home.
- 💐 Shop Best-Selling Fragrances — Discover the scents that customers love most.
- 🎁 Find Your Signature Scent — Take the Scent Personality Quiz to discover your perfect fragrance match.
Ready to rediscover the world through scent? Book your bespoke perfume creation session with Sue Phillips today →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fragrance therapy really help COVID-19 survivors regain their sense of smell?
Many COVID-19 survivors have experienced anosmia — the loss of smell — as a lasting symptom. Master perfumer Sue Phillips has guided multiple survivors through structured fragrance journeys, helping them reconnect with scent through targeted olfactory stimulation. While Sue is not a medical professional, her clients have reported remarkable breakthroughs, particularly with base notes like vanilla, amber, and woodsy scents, as well as citrus top notes. Scent training is increasingly recognized as a complementary approach to anosmia recovery.
What is a fragrance journey and how does it work?
A fragrance journey is a guided sensory experience led by Sue Phillips in which you explore scents across three layers: light top notes (citrus, green), expressive middle notes (florals, fruits), and rich base notes (vanilla, woods, amber). Each layer is designed to engage your olfactory system and limbic brain — the part of the brain connected to memory and emotion. Sessions are available in-studio in NYC or at home.
Who is Sue Phillips and what makes her a fragrance expert?
Sue Phillips is a New York City-based master perfumer with decades of experience creating fragrances for luxury brands including Tiffany & Co. and Lancôme. She is the founder of Scenterprises, a bespoke fragrance studio offering personalized scent creation experiences for individuals, corporate clients, and wellness events. Learn more on her Meet Sue Phillips page.
How can I try scent training at home to recover my sense of smell?
Sue Phillips recommends starting with citrus fruits — lemons, limes, and grapefruit — and practicing smell exercises with your eyes open, then closed. This helps exercise the olfactory-brain connection. For a more structured approach, explore Sue's Perfume Discovery & Scent Kits, which are designed to guide you through a range of fragrance families from the comfort of your home. You can also book an at-home scent creation experience with Sue directly.
Does Sue Phillips offer fragrance experiences outside of New York City?
Yes! While Sue's flagship studio is in New York City, she offers at-home scent creation experiences that can be enjoyed anywhere, as well as retreats and wellness events and private party fragrance experiences that travel to your location. She also ships her artisan fragrance collection and scent kits nationwide.