Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger didn't hold back as he detailed the 'pungent odor' of former President Donald Trump in an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier in the week
I knew a girl in college that had lost her sense of smell. This was 20 years before covid, so that wouldn’t have been the cause. Maybe this loomer person has no sense of smell.
On a serious note, COVID isn't the only virus that can cause loss of smell (permanent or temporary). I lost it before COVID for a month or so, and it took some time for it to return completely. But to this day, there are still certain chemical smells (like deodorants in spray) that smell a tiny bit off to me.
My mom has no sense of smell, I believe it was from a polyp surgery where the surgeon nicked something during the operation. We couldn't have any gas powered appliances growing up because she wouldn't be able to smell a leak if there was one.
Plenty of reasons beyond COVID for why someone may not be able to smell.