FAQ
General questions
Yes! All NOSA products can be used if pregnant.
The age recommendation for NOSA products are from 12 years old.
An opened package is recommended to be used within 2 months. All unopened packages have a shelf life of 2 years, the date is displayed on the packaging.
You can buy our 7-packs here in our webshop (intended for private customers). There are also various e-pharmacies selling NOSA products in Europe, which can be found by searching for NOSA’s products.
You can order bigger packages of NOSA menthol plugs and NOSA microbial control intended for B2B usage, through any of our distributors. NOSA allergy filter is only available for consumers (7-pack). If you are interested in buying NOSA smell training as a company, feel free to contact us at customerservice@nosaplugs.com.
All NOSA products are single-use products and are not recommended for reusage. The devices works as intended for up to 8 hours, After finished usage, the product is recycled as plastic.
NOSA smell training
Olfactory training, also known as smell training, is an effective method for improving people’s sense of smell. Individuals can improve their ability to recognize different smells, by regularly exposing themselves to different scents and concentrating on identifying them.
Smell training has become particularly popular in healthcare for people with an impaired sense of smell, such as those suffering from anosmia (complete loss of smell) or hyposmia (impaired sense of smell).
Instructions for use: Once opening the box, familiarize yourself with the calendar displayed on the lid. Plan for four sessions per day, five days a week – two in the morning and two in the evening. Always use the devices as instructed on the box.
Step 1: Always begin by cleaning your hands. This ensures that you avoid any potential irritation or infection.
Step 2: Take out the first two scents according to the calendar and carefully insert the first scented plug into your nose. Apply gently into the nostrils until the bracket meets the nasal wall.
Step 3: Set a timer for 10 minutes. During this time, focus on the scent. Visualization can help reinforce your memory of the scent.
Step 4: Once the first session is complete, carefully remove the device from your nose and repeat steps 1-3 above with the next scent according to the calendar.
Step 5: Follow the same steps for the evening sessions.
Read our full instructions for use for NOSA smell training here.
The prescribed treatment period spans 8 weeks, during which the patient is exposed to four distinct scents 5 days a week for a cumulative duration of 40 minutes per day. This exposure is split into four 10-minute sessions, two in the morning and two in the evening. Each session presents two of the different scents, each lasting for a period of 10 minutes.
The kit comes with 10 boxes with 10 different scents and each containing 16 noseplugs of the scents; Lemon, Strawberry, Orangea, Vanilla, Melon, Rosemary, Lavender, Menthol, Cherry and Cola. Spicy and fruity fragrances are to be recommended for a smell training program, and the nose plugs lets the patient breathe easily through the product. The patient can simply train while breathing wherever they want, whenever they want.
Yes, additional scents will be able to purchase from our webshop that you can switch to any existing scent-box in your “NOSA smell training set”. New scents will be released continuously, so stay tuned on our website!
The treatment is designed for 8 weeks without interruption, but if you get sick or can’t do the training, you can pause these days and continue where you left off. For the best result, as few interruptions as possible should be made.
Smell training has been shown to be effective in stimulating the olfactory receptors and promoting the recovery of lost olfactory ability.¹ The sense of smell plays a crucial role in our ability to experience and enjoy different smells and tastes.
There are several reasons why you should consider training your sense of smell;
Exercising your sense of smell improves the experience of food and drink by enhancing flavors.
It can help to experience different scents in a deeper way and increase awareness of your surroundings.
Losing your sense of smell could also be dangerous, since it helps us to recognize hazardous situations. For example, sensing the smell of fire or gas, or sensing bad food.
A reduced sense of smell has also shown to affect well-being, by causing depression and a negative impact on social relations, appetite and lust.¹
About half of all people who get covid-19 experience a short or long-term loss of smell. One year after recovery, 10 percent state that they still have problems – but if you actually measure the sense of smell, it turns out to be 20 percent that still have a reduced sense of smell.²
Several studies have shown that a large number of patients have not recovered their full sense of smell after covid. A study in the US showed that around 25% were still affected by a reduced, or altered, sense of smell after recovery.³
There are more possible reasons except for a covid infection for losing your sense of smell.
Hormonal imbalances can affect the sense of smell because hormones play an important role in regulating our sensory system. When the hormones are out of balance, it can affect the mucous membranes in the nose and thereby impair the sense of smell. Some neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, can also affect the parts of the brain responsible for the sense of smell, which can result in loss of smell.
The product is recommended from 12 years of age and for anyone that wishes to increase their sense of smell, or that suffers from hyposmia, anosmia or parosmia.
NOSA has developed an app that will help you keep track of your training by:
Scheduling and Reminders: Provides users with a structured calendar to organize their smell training sessions and offer reminders, which are fostering a consistent routine.
Visualization: Utilize images to bolster the user’s experience and engagement during the training sessions.
Feedback: Allow users to document subjective feedback on their own sense of smell, quality of life, and their progress over time for personal reflection and self-awareness.
This application is intended for well-being and lifestyle purposes only. Users should not replace or substitute professional medical advice or treatment with the insights gathered by the use of this app.
Disclaimer:
The primary objective of NOSA smell training app is to promote well-being and personal awareness of one’s olfactory senses. It is not designed, nor should it be used, for the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or alleviation of any medical condition or disease. In alignment with MDR EU 2017/745.
¹Harvard Health Publishing, Smell disorders: When your sense of smell goes astray, 2021
²Janusinfo, Luktträning hjälper covid-patienter, 2021
³Mass eye and ear, Millions of patients do not have full recovery of smell or taste senses after covid, 2023
NOSA allergy filter
NOSA allergy filters contain a filter media that filters out particles in the size range of PM10 and larger, and this reduces the amount of allergen particles entering the nose. The sealing design (sealing skirt) forces the airflow to pass through the filter media inside the unit. It is important that the sealing skirt closes tightly against the inside of the nose, so that no allergens pass through the filter media.
Allergic reactions is due to an inflammation of the nasal membranes (allergic rhinitis) and can be recognized by sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and rhinorrhea.¹
A reduced exposure to allergens reduces the risk of allergic symptoms. NOSA allergy filter reduces the amount of allergens that enter the nose.
NOSA allergy filter is a medical device class 1 in Europe and has been clinically evaluated. External lab tests have shown that particles are effectively filtered out when someone inhale through the product. NOSA allergy filter is tested against particles in the size range of pollen, pet dander, dust & mold.
Your main focus should be to protect your nose, since a lot of the allergic symptoms are due to an inflammation of the nasal membranes. To reduce the amount of allergens that reach your respiratory system, preferably, breathe through your nose while using nasal filters.
Allergic Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal membranes and can be recognized by sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and rhinorrhea.¹
One good way to prevent allergic rhinitis is to avoid the allergens that cause the allergic reaction as much as possible, however, this is easier said than done. Allergens from pollen, dust and pet dander could be present in the air and on surfaces that we are exposed to every day.
NOSA filter consists of a “filter house” and a “sealing skirt”. The filter house should fill your whole nostrils. The function of the sealing skirt is to seal and make sure no air leaks through on the edges. Match your nostrils to the size of the filter house.
If you are unsure of which size you should choose, try our filter kit!
See the descriptive image below.
NOSA allergy filter can be used for up to 8 hours and is a single-use product. After usage, the product is recycled as plastic.
The product is made of TPE plastic and a PP filter media.
¹ eMedicine, Allergic Rhinitis, 2022.
Nosa Odor Control
NOSA odor control has undergone rigorous testing to assess its safety. Results from cytotoxicity tests revealed no evidence of toxic effects and tests for skin irritation showed no signs of irritation. The user can be confident in the quality and safety of NOSA odor control plugs.
No, NOSA odor control will not filter or block microbials. However, NOSA microbial control is developed to reduce the exposure of bacteria and viruses, by inactivating viruses and killing bacteria that get in contact with the device.
Of course, since the product is easy to breathe through, you can also wear a face mask without any difficultys. However, a few users with sensitive eyes have reported some discomfort due to the menthol fragrance leaking through the upper part of the mask from the exhaled air. If this occurs, it is recommended to adjust the mask to prevent any leakage near the eyes, thereby minimizing any potential irritation.
All NOSA products are single-use products and are not recommended for reusage. The device works for up to 8 hours as intended, after finished usage, the product is recycled as plastic.
Nosa Microbial Control
The product design forces the air to pass through the lamella structure of the device where it kills bacteria and inactivates viruses that get in contact with the product. This is made possible due to the silver phosphate particles infused into the material.
Inside the nose is a sensitive area called the mucous membrane. Bacteria and viruses can enter the body and infect humans through this area. A reduced exposure to bacteria and viruses in the nose has been shown to reduce the risk of respiratory infections. NOSA microbial control is tested against varius of the most common flu viruses.
The latest research shows that there are two types of cells inside the nose that are the probable entry point for COVID-19. These cells work as “viral entry receptors” and are highly accessible to the coronavirus because of the location in the nose.¹
Years of product development on NOSA microbial control has resulted in a patented design that:
Reduces viruses
Reduces bacteria
Easy to breathe through
Discreet and comfortable
Innovative design
Can be used for up to 8 hours
Are you not sure how to place NOSA microbial control in your nose correctly? Watch the instruction video here!
Hold the product bracket between your index fingers and thumbs and carefully place the product in your nostrils until the bracket meets the nasal wall.
Carefully press the product upwards with your index finger and thumb until it is placed correctly and does not fall out.
Try to adjust the product again until it feels comfortable, if you feel that the product is placed wrong. Do not use if any discomfort arises.
The coronavirus is one of the most common flu viruses at the moment, together with rhinovirus, norovirus, and adenovirus among others. Variants associated with COVID-19 are for example “Delta” and “Omicron”. They are mutations of the coronavirus and it’s known that mutations can be more contagious to humans than previous variants of a virus. It believes that the new mutations of the coronavirus in the future will be part of the recurring pool of viruses.²
The coronavirus primarily attacks two types of cells in the nose that infect the body. These cells work as “viral entry receptors” and are highly accessible to the coronavirus because of the location in the nose.¹
Tests performed by external laboratories show that NOSA microbial control can reduce Coronavirus, Rhinovirus, and Norovirus up to 93% and Staphylococci (MRSA), Pneumococci, and E-coli up to 99%.
The most commonly used face mask, the surgical mask, aims to reduce the transmission of infectious particles from the user to the environment through exhalation.³
In other words, it aims to protect others from your potential infectious particles. The only respiratory protection intended to protect the user against viruses and bacteria is FFP3, the highest class of filters, which is often used within the chemical industry.⁴
NOSA microbial control is designed to reduce the user’s exposure of bacteria and viruses by inhalation through the nose. A reduced exposure of bacteria and viruses reduces the risk of respiratory infections.
The device has been tested against a variety of the most common bacteria and viruses, such as Coronavirus, Rhinovirus, and Norovirus as well as Staphylococcus including MRSA, pneumococci, and E-coli.
Yes, you can explore all our distributors for NOSA microbial control on the distributors-page.
¹ Sungnak et al, SARS-CoV-2 entry factors are highly expressed in nasal epithelial cells together with innate immune genes, Nature Medicin 26, s.681–687 (2020)
² folkhälsomyndigheten, 2022
³ Läkemedelsverket, 2021
⁴ Europeiska Kommissionen, 2022