a physician can determine if the problem is with the sense of smell (olfactory system) or taste (gustatory system), or if it is caused by a neurological or psychiatric disorder. phantosmia usually goes away on its own. sometimes this occurs step by step. the process can take several years. when a phantom smell is caused by an illness (e.g., sinusitis), it should go away with theillness. if the problem persists or causes significant discomfort, a doctor might recommend nasal saline drops, antidepressant or anticonvulsant medications, anesthesia to parts of the nose, or in very rare circumstances, surgical procedures to remove the olfactory nerves or bulbs.