Is it normal to smell in your dreams?
Unusual.Less common, but harmless
Yes—smelling things in dreams is less common than seeing or hearing things, but it can happen and is usually harmless. Your brain can create a convincing scent as part of the dream.
Dreams can involve any of your senses, including smell. Some people notice scents in dreams more vividly than others, while plenty of people rarely or never do—it’s just one of the less commonly reported dream sensations.
If you’re smelling something while awake and there’s no apparent source, especially if it keeps happening, that’s a different thing and worth mentioning to a healthcare professional.